A Sisyphean Stone Machine perpetually sorts a pile of pebbles by color, from darkest to lightest. The machine makes a persistent effort to control and structure the unstructured. This effort may be considered pointless as it goes against the forces of nature. Despite the enduring attempt, as time goes by the stones diffuse and the order is broken.
The machine mechanically controls the movement of individual stones, separating them from the large and heavy pile, moving them along conveyors and through a sensor that detects their colors. This isn’t a trivial task, given the natural variability of stone sizes and shapes.
Much like a living organism’s homeostasis, where directional chemical processes maintain life, the machine endlessly fights to organize and control its environment - even as its meticulous order inevitably slips away.
Stone Sorting Machine examines our urge to impose control amid randomness and larger forces shaping our lives. This focus on chance recurs in Liat Segal’s oeuvre, spanning works like Random Walk, Random Walk 2.0, Plate Recorder, and more.
Installation
Technique: Electronics, mechanics, software, stone
Machine size: 60\60\120 cm