Kinetic Object,
Victoria & Albert Museum, London
80 (diameter) x 150 (length) cm
Rotating mechanism from mirror-polished brass,
stainless steel, glossed wooden lettering,
contained in a clear acrylic casing
Troikas 'Palindrome' is a kinetic object that recognises the rich collection of the V&A as one of the worlds most fascinating treasure homes collecting over 3,000 years worth of cultural artefacts from the world's most established cultures.
Drawing inspiration from this fabulous and tremendously diverse mix of artefacts representative of a multitude of periods and styles, we created an object that embodies this spirit, intricately crafted and eclectic.
At its centre the iconic V&A monogram, originally designed by Alan Fletcher, is made of three independently revolving parts. The logo de-contructs and reconnects itself with each half turn forming a playful palindrome legible from either side while the wheels produce a gentle ticking sound reminiscent of a Victorian Automaton clockwork.
It's delicate ensemble of 85 stand-alone hand-crafted elements, Troika's Palindrome has been created with heritage materials, not unfamiliar to those found on show in the museum. From simple fasteners to the large gears driving the letters, the design refers to the museum's rich collection of intricate brass ornaments, jewellery, textile patterns and beautifully crafted display boxes.
The Palindrome was commissioned by the Victoria & Albert Museum and installed at the V&A entrance on the 8th of July 2010.
See a video of the Palindrome at the V&A here.
© Troika, 2010