International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, Vol. 5, No. 11, November 2015 The History and Evolution of Kinetic Art Guang-Dah Chen, Chih-Wei Lin, and Hsi-Wen Fan since electronic technology and digital technology are all Abstract—Kinetic Art is a model of dynamic perceivable involved. And on the back of power, it is also supported by expression. As the continuous advance and improvement of theoretical basis. The aforementioned information science and technology, Kinetic Art thus combined with the sufficiently proves that in an environment where technology technology of each year and displayed different appearances gradually flourishes, the development and concepts of kinetic that it has been deeply influenced by technology and its development. This research would investigate the history of art progress and evolve accordingly, and there has been a Kinetic Art via reviewing literature. And discuss the expression gradual integration and fusion of between kinetic art and appearance in each stage and the influence on current Kinetic technology. Therefore, the current study focused on time and Art. Finally, the following viewpoints are proposed. 1. The analyzed the development and progress related to kinetic art evolution of Kinetic Art are gradually turned from living in each stage. In addition to the roles that technology and entertainment to art fields, and has a tight connection with technique played in kinetic art, the current study explored the technology. 2. Bauhaus established the position of Kinetic Art in the education of plastic design, and Kinetic Art is the developmental context and evolvement of kinetic art, with indispensable manifestation pattern in the education of design. the aim to ascertain the value of kinetic art in designing and 3. Technology exists inside the creative ideas of Kinetic Art and plastic arts. that will drive the development of new fields of vision. 4. Kinetic Art will be conducted by high-tech and sustainably precede development of dynamic optical illusion effect and combine II. DEVELOPMENT OF KINETIC ART BEFORE 20TH CENTURY interaction and participation. Index Terms—Design education, interactive art, kinetic art, A. The Beginning of the Infancy of Kinetic Art mechanical music instruments. In 1897, the mural art about jumping cattle drawn by ancient people 20-30 thousand years ago was found in the grotto cave in Cantabrian, France. The amazing streamlined I. INTRODUCTION approach vividly capture the pace and dynamic extracts of Kinetic arts could be divided into 2 categories. The first the animals, which could serve as the proof that they category refers to the shaping with actual motion. The other concerned about the dynamic things. In the ancient ceremony one category is that the shaping is stationary but would form of Osiris in Egypt, one doll (Fig. 1) with height about 50 illusion phenomenon in motion perception on the retina. The centimeters that could be pulled by a string was found. Then kinetic art before the 20th century mainly aimed to create a in the ancient tomb coffin in Memphis, and etc., many dolls more convenient and efficient lifestyle. After the 20th with movable shoulders and foot joints were also found. century, the products of modern industrial technology (i.e., These dolls take advantage of the towing and dragging of new machinery, tools, and materials) kept being developed, string to produce motions. In addition to the joints of hands and the once entertainment-oriented kinetic art designing and legs, the arms of these dolls could also do simple moved towards the field of art. This very shift provided a new up-and-down motion [1]. opportunity and energy of art. Thus, it developed into one artistic school and named as kinetic art. In addition, forward-looking Bauhaus incorporated kinetic art and relevant basic science into the curriculum of preparatory education. Except for the announcement that kinetic art must combine scientific knowledge and technology, kinetic art started to become the research focus and direction of design element, laying the foundations for future design education of kinetic art. As the wheel of time Fig. 1. Ancient Egypt Doll [2]. Fig. 2. Water clock [3]. turns, the source of power is not limited to solely machines Greek inventor Ctesibius (B.C.285-222）designed water clock, which underwent accurate control on water flow Manuscript received June 11, 2014; revised August 15, 2014. The authors through numerous pistons. This could serve as the driving would like to express their thanks to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, R.O.C., who have sponsored the research presented in this paper force for numerous automatic devices including bells, under Grant MOST 103-2410-H-224-030-. marionettes, and songbirds (Fig. 2). Another inventor, Philon Guang-Dah Chen and Hsi-Wen Fan is with the Department of Digital (B.C.280-220), Byzantium scientist, invented “ink pot”, an Media Design of the National University of Science and Technology, Yunlin, Taiwan (e-mail: [email protected], [email protected] eight-sided ink pot with an opening on each side could be m). turn so that any face is on top, dip in a pen and ink it-yet the Chih-Wei Lin is with the Graduate School of Design of the National ink never runs out through the holes of the side according to University of Science and Technology, Yunlin, Taiwan (e-mail: [email protected]). the principles of gimbals. DOI: 10.7763/IJSSH.2015.V5.581 922 International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, Vol. 5, No. 11, November 2015 In the 2nd century BC, Greek architect built a statue that the mechanics. Such technology significantly minimized the floats in the air for the wife of Egyptian King Ptolemy II huge volumes of automatic organs and chime. Pierre Jaquet (B.C.284-246). The floating structure was dependent on the Droz (A.D.1721-1790), a Swiss, invented 3 Jaquet-Droz overall setting of magnetic forces on the roof and wall [4]. It Automaton (Fig. 3) that could do the writing, painting, and seems that such technology of magnetic force application music playing works within the time period from 1768 to does not exist anymore. From the literatures described above, 1774. This was the earliest device that could operate the it could be realized that people in early time periods already automatic procedures via precise mechanical elements and knew how to take advantage of various scientific principles structures. This could be regarded as the ancestor for the to design machines and tools or artistic expression. No matter following automatic control, modern mechanical calculators, whether these inventions were functional, they are all and the early electronic calculator. wonderful masterpieces. In 1738, Jacques de Vaucanson (A.D.1709-1782), a Heron of Alexandria was a genius inventor that advocated French person, invented flute player. The most famous work and promoted the invention described above. He not merely of James Cox (A.D.1723-1800), a British person, was a took advantage of power sources such as wind power, water golden and huge Peacock Clock designed for Catherine II in flow, fire, and pressure-driving force to improve organs. In 1772. Pedro Pierre Jacques, Jacques Buddha Gan Johnson, addition to actively invent the first steamer, he also designed and James Cox were all very famous watch artisans at that automatic devices such as mechanical puppet theater, fire time. All of the artistic boutiques were exported to China, engines, milestones meter, and measuring instrument similar India, and other Far East regions. to modern theodolite. He also invented automatic devices such as automatic holy water devices, automatic nectar supply devices, steam power balls, and automatic organ systems [4]. It is amazing that one person in the 1st century could own such striking technology and thoughts. According to the records of the literatures described above, it could be known that people had abundant imagination and creativity on the moving things and motion itself since ancient times. It also could be found that people attempted to Fig. 4. Copper-plated gold writing automaton, 1770 [6]. take advantage of various mechanic powers to produce actual motion effects for creating more convenient living methods In 1770, British minister gave a writing automaton to as well as elevating working efficiency and recreational Qianlong, the emperor of Chinese Qing Dynasty. This writing automaton could use writing brush to write 8 Chinese functions in very early time. characters: Ba Fang Xiang Hua, Jiu Tu Lai Wang (Fig. 4). B. Kinetic Art from Tradition to Modern This mechanical doll’s head would swing left and right as the In the middle ages, Europe was an enclosed society. There mechanical idol writing Chinese characters. This is the were few development and elevation of related technology related record about the import of automatic mechanical within that time period of about 1000 years. It was not until device into China. [7] Although the plastic shaping of the 14th century that "Renaissance" rose in Da interest automatic mechanical device had developed in ancient China, Florens Adams did the science and art highly break through. serious gaps already formed between the China and the Mechanical music instruments started to prevail in the Western in the expression of kinetic plastic shaping owing to middle ages. For the kinetic shaping aspect, it is a concrete the Qing Dynasty’s policy of seclusion. characterization that totally integrates “technology” into daily life. It is also a novel expression for the development of kinetic shaping. The first automatic instrument was a clock III. DEVELOPMENT OF KINETIC ART IN A.D.1900-1935 configured with chimes and the pushing of steelyard weights. This device took advantage of the mechanical principles to A. Futurism That Used Motion and Speed as Performance roll a metal cylinder covered with pegs to beat the chimes, Theme which allows the instruments to play different tunes.