Kinetic Rain - World's largest kinetic art sculpture @ Changi Airport Terminal 1

World's largest kinetic art sculpture unveiled at Changi Airport
SINGAPORE, 4 July 2012 -- Passengers and airport visitors entering the Departure Check-in Hall at Singapore Changi Airport's Terminal 1 (T1) can expect to stop in their tracks and be captivated by a new art installation. Kinetic Rain, as it is titled, takes pride of place at the terminal, enthralling visitors with its fluidity, distinctive shapes, elegant and refined movements and precision-perfect technology.

Kinetic Rain, installed as part of T1's recent refurbishment, is the icon of the revamped Departure Check-in Hall. This specially commissioned sculpture, a first in an airport globally, comes as a pair, each installed several metres apart from each other and visible from many areas of the Departure Check-in Hall.

Kinetic Rain is made up of 1,216 bronze droplets that transform elegantly into multiple shapes, akin to poetry in motion. Carrying an aviation theme, the key element in every shape shows the movement of flight through slow, fluid movements. Some of the more recognisable shapes include an aeroplane, hot air balloon and a kite. One can also make out a dragon and a flock of birds amongst the 16 different programmed segments.

Each droplet is connected to motors installed in the ceiling of the Departure Check-in Hall. The motors contain a high precision rotary encoder which keeps track of the exact position of each droplet. A computer programme is used to control the movement of the droplets to form Kinetic Rain's unique shapes and patterns. A video on the making-of Kinetic Rain can be viewed here.

Kinetic Rain was created over a span of 20 months. Artists, programmers and technologists were engaged to analyse the space available at T1 and conceptualise a masterpiece that would be representative of the new terminal. The refurbished T1 is aptly themed 'Tropical City' in keeping with Singapore's garden city status and where rain, is very much a part of the tropical climate.

Mr Yeo Kia Thye, Senior Vice President for Airport Operations, Changi Airport Group, said, "When we decided to upgrade Terminal 1 in 2008, we were mindful that people have fond memories of the terminal including the old Mylar Cords, the circular curtain of water that straddled three stories of the building. We wanted an art sculpture, which we found in Kinetic Rain, that was able to add the signature touch linking back to T1's illustrious past in a new and exciting way.

"With more than a thousand raindrops working together in harmony, Kinetic Rain also symbolises the thousands in the airport community who work together every day to provide our passengers and visitors with a positively surprising and memorable Changi Experience."

An audio commentary and official video are also available for visitors who wish to know more about Kinetic Rain. All they have to do is scan the QR code present at the display boards at the T1 Departure Check-in Hall with their smartphones. For more information about the refurbished T1, please visit: www.changiairport.com/terminal1

About Changi Airport Group

Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd (CAG) (www.changiairportgroup.com) was formed on 16 June 2009 and the corporatisation of Singapore Changi Airport followed on 1 July 2009. As the company managing Changi Airport, CAG undertakes key functions focusing on airport operations and management, air hub development, commercial activities and airport emergency services. Through its subsidiary Changi Airports International, the Group invests in and manages foreign airports to spread the success of Changi Airport internationally.

Changi Airport (www.changiairport.com) is the world's most awarded airport having garnered more than 400 accolades since it opened in 1981. To serve passengers and visitors from the world over, there are 360 retail stores and 130 F&B outlets across the airport's four terminals. Changi handled more than 46 million passenger movements in 2011, an annual record. Today, it serves some 100 airlines flying to over 220 cities in about 60 countries and territories worldwide. A flight takes off or lands at Changi roughly once every 100 seconds.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[srberube]

4:34 fail - Vertical Video Syndrome

[rasserie]

One of them got stuck

[Skwiggs Skytower]

to much info behind it, title should have said this was about the technical details.

[ruleram1]

the guy at 1:06, was anybody else reminded of Pewdiepie?

[Animalcrossing35]

0 views?

[Nelson Baietti]

breath taking, absolutely beautiful, but you take 90% of the video talking instead of showing... I saw the video about it, sounded like it was made by the designers, but now I have to see other videos to actually see whats that.

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one of the first rules of cinema: show, don't tell.

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but still... unbelievably amazing!!! honestly incredible sculpture

[Ghost31191]

So, how rich do I have to be to get one of these to put in a bathroom to watch while I shit?

[goose2goose2]

no one cares what you want to do....get it?

[patleo123]

It must be very expensive. Only Changi Airport can afford to buy it.

[CosplayCore]

You're just jealous that this is true beauty.

[Ty Cetto]

Yes, there should be a law against it... I'm sure there is now in SG! ;-)

[dlwatib]

Landscape mode is your friend! Why reduce your image to the size of a postage stamp with excessive black borders? Also, images of talking heads aren't nearly exciting as images of the real thing.