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Sisyphus is Merging Kinetic Art with Education
We are pleased to announce Sisyphus Industries has partnered with the Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology to not only bring the joy of kinetic art to its patrons – but the ability to teach code through our innovative tech.
Jon Haavie, educator at the museum, initially saw Sisyphus at a maker faire. Years later, after being shown how Sisyphus has made its way into homes across the globe, he was inspired. After meeting with Sisyphus’ Software Developer and Educator, Matt Klundt – they challenged themselves to bring kinetic art into the education space. The culmination of hard work and innovation manifested as Sisyphus +Code. A program inspired by turtle graphics and Scratch, allowing students to make “turtle art”.
Students have the ability to craft code based functions and commands that seamlessly convert to kinetic art on an accompanying Sisyphus, at the push of a button.
This cross-disciplinary approach of combining programming and art makes learning code not only exciting, but accessible. Using Sisyphus +Code, students need only drag and drop functions to understand the basic mechanics. Within a single classroom session, kids can create something on the screen, and see it start immediately playing in sand. “The reward of seeing it physically, the kids really respond to it well,” says Haavie, “Within an hour, a kid can make amazing art that they’re proud of.” As an alternative for more advanced students, they can also convert their block code, and continue using JavaScript or Python seamlessly within the same app. This project has opened up the world of algorithmic art to kids of all ages.
In 2023, the partnership expanded to 12 Norwegian science centers, with 150 Sisyphus Minis operating across Norway. Each machine does not require internet connection for use – meaning education centers in more remote locations can still access this creative learning tool. Sisyphus +Code has taught over 6,000 students across the country.
Additionally, Sisyphus has a permanent installation where it all started, the Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology. Our team of craftspeople created a 2 Meter Stainless Steel Exhibition Table, beautifully installed in their telecommunications and data exhibition. As it creates and erases engaging designs, visitors are dazzled by the beauty of kinetic art.
ABOUT SISYPHUS
Sisyphus Industries continues to create and share kinetic art with hundreds all over the world. The company began with the incredible success of its inaugural product, Sisyphus Kinetic Art Table, launched in 2016, which quickly became and remains the highest funded art project in Kickstarter’s history. Today, they continue to innovate new ways of bringing the joy of kinetic art into the homes of people around the world.
Sisyphus is both a kinetic art sculpture and a beautifully designed piece of furniture. It works by magnetically pulling a steel ball through sand using a robot (the “Sisbot”). The tracks the ball leaves in the sand field create captivating, intricate, and endlessly changing patterns under a tempered glass table top. Sisyphus comes in metal side tables (22” diameter) and coffee tables (36” diameter); hardwood coffee tables (3’ and 4’ diameter); and the 15″ diameter Sisyphus Mini — desktop-size kinetic art decor.
Designed to play and load tracks like a music player, you can curate your own relaxing playlists of paths using the Sisyphus App on your phone, tablet, or computer. Tracks can also be shared and created amongst Sisyphus users, with over 3,500 tracks to choose from, and more on the way.
Ready to elevate your space with kinetic art? Visit our site to start your order at https://sisyphus-industries.com/shop
ABOUT TEKNISK
The Teknisk Museum is Norway’s largest museum for technology, industry, natural science, and medicine. Boasting two makerspaces at their centers, Teknisk allows kids to experiment and show their creative side with technology and science.
