Not that I’d advocate for slowing time down – at least definitely not this year, but Lieberman’s iconic installation Slow Dance makes time move slowly, but in a way that’s aesthetic, pleasing, and goddamn fascinating. The Slow Dance is an edge-lit frame with a strange mechanism at its center. Clip a feather or a flower to it and it begins billowing in an invisible breeze… but in slow motion. You could be in a room with absolutely no wind and the feather or flower still sways on its own in that hypnotic slow speed – like nature’s own fidget spinner.
So how does the Slow Dance achieve this stunning feat? Well, I wish it were magic, but it’s a precisely engineered optical illusion from the mind of Lieberman, who develops all sorts of wondrous toys (we do recommend you check his work out!) The illusion lies in your eye’s ability to only see at 24 frames per second. The frame comes with two components, an electromagnet that vibrates the feather, and the edge-lighting around the frame that uses a high-speed strobe to flicker so fast you barely notice it. Time the vibrations and flickers precisely, and you have a rudimentary version of a cinema projector that shines a flickering light through various individual frames to create a movie. The Slow Dance uses the same principle, timing its vibrations and light-bursts in such a stunningly precise way, it looks like the feather’s waving in a slow breeze. Lieberman built the Slow Dance to hold all sorts of tiny objects, so you could easily switch the feather out for a flower, a stem, or even a large leaf. Regardless of the object you secure to the Slow Dance, it flutters magically in slow motion perfectly, making you experience time slowly. In fact, the Slow Dance comes with strobe modes too, allowing it to even duplicate itself, or glitch by jumping in time and space. I imagine it’s exactly how Doctor Strange or Doctor Manhattan experience time and space too. (Why are all the time-travelers doctors? Hmmm…)
The Slow Dance runs on a power supply, and while it makes an absolutely mesmerizing desk toy, if you’ve got the ability to conceal its wiring, you can even hang the frame on a wall to absolutely stun any of your house-guests!
Designer: Jeff Lieberman of Wonder Machines
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Slow Dance – Beyond Your Perception
The Slow Dance is a picture frame that makes real objects appear to move in slow motion. By taking advantage of the limits of human visual perception, this optical illusion sculpture appears to be doing the impossible — right before your eyes. Slow Dance combines technology, science, and art, in order to remind us of the natural mystery, beauty, and wonder that surround us every day.
Play & Experiment!
You bring the objects to Slow Dance — it is a blank canvas for you to compose. From weeds on the street to flowers in the garden to bird feathers, each object will reveal a new slow motion world.
It will change how you will see plants and other objects forever. Different modes allow you to cycle through different dance patterns, some slow and smooth, and others that make the object appear to jump through space.
Interview With a Slow Dancer
Jeff Lieberman explores the connections between the arts, sciences, education, creativity, and consciousness. He hosted ‘Time Warp’ on the Discovery Channel, using technology to see beyond the limits of our normal human perception. He shows technological sculptures around the world, to bring people an emotional and mystical connection with science and the universe. Having finished four degrees at MIT (BS: Physics, Math, MS: Mech. Engineering, Media Arts and Sciences), he is exploring the applications of technology to evolving and shifting human consciousness. He wants beauty, wonder, and love in your life, now!
Click Here to Buy Now: $319 $399 (20% off with Coupon Code: YANKO). Hurry, for a limited time only!
