I'm been thinking a lot about mobiles. This may be in part due to a sudden onslaught of baby friends, but I've also always been interested in their movement and graphic qualities. However when it comes to babies very few of the mobiles on the market have any particular value other than being "cute". mostly contain a half dozen stuffed toys hanging in a circle. I'm interested in creating a mobile for a baby that has movement and may or may not have light and sound elements. I would also like to attempt an on/off triggered by crying. Most of all, I would like to create something with ageless graphic appeal and incorporate mechanical movement. the mobiles by Alexander Calder are a source of inspiration for their elegance and simple color schemes.
I'm not necessarily aiming for something that has primarily adult interest, but something that can be playful and generally a step or two more aesthetically pleasing than what's generally available. These sheep are a nice balance between simple graphics, and something that's even slightly more refined. I'm also interested in integrating more mechanical elements. Some inspiration for the movement may be pulled from Hoberman's sphere in addition to more/other visible cogs and mechanisms.
Theo Jansen is completely incredible.