Small Red Cylinder

1964/65

23 x 10 x 10 cm

Enamelled red copper wire wound on altered metal, cylinder, motor, brass rods & Perspex assembly. 

“First Light Drum and Small Red Cylinder are the earliest works in my Light Cylinder series. 

Altering the surface of cylinders, which can be made of Perspex, aluminium, perforated metal or stainless steel rods, often minimally, I then coat them in a thin winding of enameled copper wire. The wire, often as thin as a human hair, acts as a reflecting surface. The cylinders are placed on turntables rotating at a constant speed. In them I use reflected light to see form unfold in a four-dimensional code. I was interested in the way a reflected line of light describes the altered surface of the cylinder and gives precise information about any changes made to its surface.” – Liliane Lijn