The Kinetic Art of Ian Howell

 

Time is usually something we glance at—a rigid, invisible measure of minutes and hours. In TIME IN MOTION, kinetic artist Ian Howell deconstructs the traditional clock, transforming the gallery into a living, moving machine.

Bridging mechanical engineering with contemporary kinetic art, Ian’s practice centres on "visible thinking"—stripping away the casing to expose interlocking gear trains, escapements, and custom microcontroller logic. Featuring 20 sculptural timepieces crafted from layered timbers, bamboo, brass, polished mirror acrylic, and programmable LEDs, this collection invites you to stop counting the seconds and watch time unfold.

 

The Four Worlds:

• The Natural World: Organic cycles anchored by the expanding and contracting frame of the monumental Breathing Forest.

• The Machine World: A celebration of industrial geometry, aircraft-inspired mechanics (Wasp 1830), reversed gear trains, and The Dancing Clock.

• The Radiant World: Textured surfaces, gold mirror reflections, and sacred geometry—featuring Sunflowers, Persian Geometry, and hand-gilded metallics.

• The Performance World: Fluid motion breaking the traditional circular dial with liquid-colour digital displays, flowing sandscapes, and freestanding skeleton mechanisms.

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Exhibition Details

• Venue: The Incubator Creative Hub, The Historic Village, 17th Avenue, Tauranga

• Exhibition Dates: Saturday 26 September – Saturday 17 October 2026

• Opening Preview: Friday 25 September 2026, from 5:30 PM

• Gallery Hours: Daily 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM 

• Admission: Free entry

• Event website: https://www.theincubator.co.nz/event-details/time-in-motion-the-kinetic-art-of-ian-howell

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Programme

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Interactive Workshops 

Special Event Day: Tuesday, 6 October 2026

Location: The Incubator, The Historic Village, Tauranga, New Zealand

• Creative Code: Programming the 120 LED Ring

  Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

  • About: An interactive morning session exploring how hardware and code intersect. Discover how custom light rings are engineered, collaborate on a generative lighting theme, and see dynamic firmware programmed on the spot. Designed for families, curious minds, and digital makers.

• The Mechanics of Time: Clock Assembly Masterclass

  • Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

  • About: A hands-on look at kinetic clock design. Watch a precision skeleton clock take shape from bare components while exploring laser tolerances, gear ratios, and mechanical timing​.