drawing machines, landscape, solar, wind
2013 - 2014
National Gallery of Victoria (International), Melbourne, Australia
Commissioned by the NGV for the 2013/14 exhibition Melbourne Now, Climate Control is seen here in the courtyard of the NGV International.
Like an enlarged thermo-hygrograph, Climate Control translates weather energy from the greater environment into abstract ink drawings on paper. The thermo-hygrograph is an obsolete analog device that continuously records both the temperature and relative humidity of the atmosphere against time by drawing onto a revolving chart, crucial for ensuring an International standard of care and preservation of artworks in institutions.
Climate Control is a visual-information-gathering kinetic drawing machine that is powered by the wind and the sun.
A solar panel directly powers a motor turning the paper drum, when the sun is out, and the wind’s subtleties move the drawing mechanism to make its marks.
The work is made for all weather types, from the most robust materials including Yellow Cedar, Stainless steel 316, brass, polycarbonate, and aluminium, accommodating great changes in climate.
All-weather drawing machine (in situ)
Climate Control from Cameron Robbins on Vimeo.
Part of the drawing mechanism, including a counterweight of exactly 2.65kg sourced from the Yarra River
Staff from Paper Conservation changing the paper after one month.
The 1:10 model for Climate Control next to a German ThermoHygrograph in the conservation lab in the NGV
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