Visual artist takes Direct approach to sensory sculpture

An artist has created a sensory sound and light sculpture from 1,000 nylon rods that will be used for display at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

George Clark-Roden made the display using three-metre long, four millimetre-thick nylon 6.6 rods from engineering plastics supplier, Direct Plastics.

Clark-Roden has developed an innovative method of suspending the nylon rods from grids in order to create three-dimensional objects. He then projects abstract films onto the objects that, in turn, take the form of three-dimensional screens. 

On interaction with the nylon rods, sound is produced via a method developed by Clark-Roden, with the help of Roland UK, a manufacturer of electronic musical instruments.

“Our nylon rods are very popular as engineering plastics, but this application takes their use to a whole new level,” said Paul Woodhead, Managing Director at Direct Plastics.

Clark-Roden said: “To create these sculptures, I require a specific user-friendly material, which is relatively hard to find. Direct Plastics have offered their advice and invested their time and expertise in making sure I buy the correct materials for whatever project I am working on.”

Nylon 6.6 rods are easily recognised due to their cream colour with slightly darker skin. The rods are manufactured by an extrusion process, have a high operating temperature and provide the strength and durability needed for a variety of applications.

The sensory sculptures have been used in three special schools in the West Midlands over the last two years. Clark-Roden is currently involved in a project that involves the development of a mobile interactive sensory sculpture, made with Direct Plastics’ materials, which could be used in schools, colleges and festivals.