THE WATER POWERED PHENAKISTOSCOPE

Here is my final outcome for the SAS brief based on Hydropower.

The Water Powered Phenakistoscope is a visual/physical analysis of what Hydropower is in itself - and reveals the idea that something as simple as water can be a perfectly viable solution as a renewable energy source. 

New Structure in Progress

I have been spending the past few days working hard in a workshop, producing a more complex structure with multiple water wheels that power the phenakistoscope. It's looking nice, will be producing a short film about the structure for my final outcome.

Phenakistoscope developed - film

 

The set-up for the developed Phenakistoscope.

Phenakistoscope developed

I wanted to develop my idea of using a water powered Phenakistoscope as an analysis of Hydropower. I think the main problem with the first attempt was its reliance on the kitchen tap - so that's the first thing I tried to solve. So off I went to the workshop - and here are some images of the result.  Film to follow.

Water Powered Phenakistoscope

Following my research on Hydropower, I wanted to find a way to portray the process of Hydropower generation in a different way. I was drawn in to the fact that power is generated by the spinning of a turbine; I then took this motion and created a Phenakistoscope, that is powered by a water wheel. A Phenakistoscope is an early animation device that uses the persistence of vision principle to create an illusion of motion.

I am going to develop this process, as I think it informs about Hydropower in a way that is more interesting than a documentary etc. Obviously a lot more work is needed to produce a more informative response to the subject, but it's an interesting start.

SAS

I have recently been working on a brief about 'Energies' for award winning agency, SAS. My given energy is Hydropower, and the brief, in short, is to produce a digital outcome which portrays an informative and creative response to the subject.


I started off by visiting Pann Mill, an old water wheel which displays Hydropower in its oldest form, before it was harnessed to generate electricity.