WINK BY SAYA MIYAZAKI & MASAKAZU SHIRANE

Two designers create a human-scale, interactive kaleidoscope inside of a shipping container

This human-sized kaleidoscope is basically the coolest thing since sliced bread. ‘Wink‘ is a mind-bending installation that was presented at last year’s KOBE Biennale and lets users create the colors of their own kaleidoscope. Designed by Saya Miyazaki and Masakazu Shirane as part of the Art Container Contest, the kaleidoscope was contained within a single shipping container.

To create the polyhedron structure of the installation, the designers used a combination of computer design and laser cutting. The laser cut pieces were then zipped together. The use of zippers not only simplified assembly, but it also offers a solution to sustainability in architecture. If architecture were more fluid and adaptable, the life of a building or object could perhaps be greatly extended. In fact, preexisting, adaptable elements of traditional Japanese architecture, such as sliding panels used to divide the home, influenced the concept. The designers were equally inspired by traditional Japanese paper folding (origami), which can be seen in the delicate, angular folds.

The whole installation is hung from a system of wires and consists of 1,100 triangles of two different dimensions. It takes roughly four hours to install. ‘Wink’ has been the winner of a silver A’ Design Award as well as a CS Design Award.