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Wind Wand

Wind Wand is a kinetic sculpture in New Plymouth, New Zealand, designed by artist Len Lye. Made from a red fibreglass tube, it has become one of the city’s main icons. The sculpture stands vertically in still air and bends when the wind moves it, while at night it lights up. It was originally installed in December 1999 with the Coastal Walkway, but had to be taken down within weeks. After repairs, it was reinstalled in June 2001. Costing over $300,000, Wind Wand was struck by lightning on 17 September 2017 and remained intact.

Wind Wand sculpture with a crimson rod rising from a rounded dome against a blue sky.
The Wind Wand rises from a dome-like base, its crimson rod curving against the open sky.
April 2006 © · CC BY 2.0
Wind Wand sculpture curving upward against a blue sky with scattered clouds.
The Wind Wand rises diagonally into a bright sky in New Plymouth.
February 2006 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Wind Wand sculpture rises from a coastal promenade beside the shoreline and city buildings under a blue sky.
The Wind Wand stands on New Plymouth’s waterfront beside the coast and nearby buildings.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0
Wind Wand sculpture on the New Plymouth waterfront beside the sea and railway tracks.
The Wind Wand rises above the New Plymouth waterfront, with the coast and railway line below.
January 2011 © · Public domain
Wind Wand on a coastal promenade at dusk, lit at the tip against a cloudy evening sky.
Wind Wand stands along the shoreline promenade as evening light falls over the sea.
© · CC BY-SA 2.0

Identification

TitleWind Wand
Typekinetic sculpture
Other version2001 London version

Historical context

May 2012 source of designmade according to the original sketches
Concept date1966
Original proposal contextProposed for the International Symposium of Sculptors in Toronto
Original intended materialaluminum
May 2012 projecttesting of a new sculpture in the form of a pentagon with six wands
May 2012 project statusunder testing

Creator

DesignerLen Lye
Other version designerRon Arad

Location and ownership

May 2012 test locationWaiwhakaiho river valley
May 2012 planned installation citiesAuckland and New Plymouth
Other version locationCanary Wharf, above Westferry Circus, London
Installation sitecenter of a bicycle path alongside the waterfront in New Plymouth, New Zealand
Associated developmentinstalled along with the Coastal Walkway
LocationNew Plymouth, New Zealand

Physical characteristics

May 2012 arrangementfive 11-metre wands at the corners of the pentagon and one 12-metre wand in the center
May 2012 size comparisonmuch smaller than the existing copy
Diameter200 mm
Weightabout 900 kg
Height45 metres
Other version height50 metres
Forma red fibreglass tube standing vertically in still air and bending in the wind

Materials

Other version materialcarbon
May 2012 materialfiberglass only
Material after repairfibreglass and carbon fibre
Materialfibreglass and carbon fibre

Appearance

Night appearanceemits a soft red light at night
Other version forma tapering needle/rod along its full length, with an LED lamp at the top
Top featurea red sphere with 1,296 LEDs

Technique

Kinetic behaviorbends in the wind

History and restoration

Condition after lightning strikeremained intact
Lightning strike date17 September 2017
Reinstallation occasioncentenary celebration of the birthday
Reinstallation date5 July 2001
Initial fate after installationhad to be taken down within weeks
Original installation date31 December 1999
Damage eventdestroyed during a storm and removed for restoration work

Significance

Public significanceone of the main icons of New Plymouth

Other

Costover $300,000