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Sky never stops : poemkon

Artist's Book
1965 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Sculptor, writer, artist and performer Liliane Lijn began to produce poem machines in 1962. These works use text that is rotated at speed on a cylindrical or conical structure.

Her sources of inspiration for this project were her reading of Buddhist texts and the Tibetan prayer wheel, works by William S. Burroughs and the cut-up technique.

'Sky never stops' was made in 1965 and is one of this series. The words, which are made from letraset, are affixed to a cone that revolves on a turntable. As they revolve the words become blurred and according to Lijn are 'sublimated and become pure energy'.

During the 1970s Lijn developed this theme further with her koan sculptures which use the same conical structure as 'Sky never stops' but which use colours rather than words. She also produced large scale sculptures such as the White Koan which can be seen today on campus at the University of Warwick.

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read Book as idea In the 1960s conceptual art emerged as a bold new movement. Its exponents believed in art as an idea, or concept, able to exist in the absence of an object as its representation. Many conceptual artists wanted to dismantle established structures of the artworld. Some felt a need to move aw...

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSky never stops : poemkon (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Cork cone, painted with applied Letraset; metal and plastic motor
Brief description
Artist's book, 'Sky never stops: poemkon', by Liliane, Lijn, with text by Leonard D. Marshall, London, 1965
Physical description
Kinetic poem machine comprising a white painted, flat topped cork cone with Letraset word poems in blue.

The cone is mounted on a motorised turntable. The pattern of repeated words appear to pulsate as the cone revolves clockwise. The poem machine operates at 50 cycles herz, 220 volts.
Dimensions
  • Height: 41cm
  • Width: 24cm
  • Cone depth: 24cm
Summary
Sculptor, writer, artist and performer Liliane Lijn began to produce poem machines in 1962. These works use text that is rotated at speed on a cylindrical or conical structure.

Her sources of inspiration for this project were her reading of Buddhist texts and the Tibetan prayer wheel, works by William S. Burroughs and the cut-up technique.

'Sky never stops' was made in 1965 and is one of this series. The words, which are made from letraset, are affixed to a cone that revolves on a turntable. As they revolve the words become blurred and according to Lijn are 'sublimated and become pure energy'.

During the 1970s Lijn developed this theme further with her koan sculptures which use the same conical structure as 'Sky never stops' but which use colours rather than words. She also produced large scale sculptures such as the White Koan which can be seen today on campus at the University of Warwick.
Other number
X940266 - NAL Pressmark
Collection
Library number
38041800804544

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Record createdMay 15, 2014
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