Rhythm Series Instaurationum Sculpturalium by Zhuoyun Xiao

Rhythm Series Instaurationum Sculpturalium by Zhuoyun Xiao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Praemium A' Design Award Ferreum in Ars Pulchra Competition Category.

FerrumArs Pulchra· 2025

Rhythm Series Instaurationum Sculpturalium

by Zhuoyun Xiao

Client: Zhuoyun Xiao

Praemium A' Design Award Ferreum Winner in Ars Pulchra Category

18,243

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #170274

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Rhythm Series Instaurationum Sculpturalium

Rhythmus est series instaurationum sculpturalium quae motus saltationis in formas stabiles convertit. Series ex quinque partibus ligni cerasi constat, altitudinibus 150, 200, 250, 300 et 350 millimetrorum, et integer apparatus mensuram 600 per 800 per 300 millimetra habet. Notae nigrae, albae et rubrae puncta transitus signant. Lignum cum accuratione secatur, manu poliri, et tinctionibus non toxicis tractatur. Altitudines variae et spatia disposita rhythmum visualem creant. Spectatores circum opus ambulant ut seriem motus sequantur.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Ferreum

Rhythm Series Instaurationum Sculpturalium victor est Praemii A' Design Award Ferreum, honoris amplissimi formis bonis dati, quae postulatis professionalibus et industrialibus ab creationibus bene formatis exspectatis satisfaciunt. Victores Ferrei magnam peritiam, altam specializationem, intellectum periti et facultatem creandi auctorum suorum ostendunt. Exspectatur Rhythm Series Instaurationum Sculpturalium creationem multum aestimatam, admiratam et carissimam, practicam et novam fore. Haec forma Ferreo victa optimas industriae consuetudines integrat et proprietates technicas idoneas, cum scientia et talento coniunctas, habet. Rhythm Series Instaurationum Sculpturalium ob diligentiam suam honoratur et ad vitae qualitatem emendandam formatum est, ut mundum meliorem reddere iuvet.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: "Rhythm" transforms dance movements into five cherry wood sculptures. The series captures clown performance dynamics through exaggerated forms and strategic spatial arrangement. Using black, white, and red color accents, these varying-height sculptures (150-350mm) create visual cadence. The work translates abstract body movements into tangible forms, merging traditional performance art with contemporary visual expression.
Dimensions & Packaging: Set dimensions: 600mm×800mm×300mm (complete installation of five pieces)
Individual heights: 150mm, 200mm, 250mm, 300mm, 350mm
Material: Cherry wood
Color system: CMYK (C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:100, C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:0, C:0 M:100 Y:100 K:0)
Finish: Hand-polished surface with specialized wood treatments
Weight: Approximately 4.5kg for complete set
Installation configuration: Sequential arrangement with specified spacing (120mm between pieces)
Environmental standards: Non-toxic finishes, sustainable harvested wood.
Tags: Grotesque Aesthetics, Dance Visualization, Cherry Wood Installation, Rhythmic Form, Visual Movement, Clown Performance, Deconstructed Motion, Dynamic Sculpture, Spatial Sequence, Color Contrast
Production Technology: Cherry wood crafted through precision cutting and hand-finishing. Five distinct sculptural elements (150-350mm) form a complete set (600×800×300mm). Used deconstruction methodology to translate clown movements into static forms. CMYK color system (C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:100, C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:0, C:0 M:100 Y:100 K:0) applied through specialized wood treatment. Spatial arrangement creates visual rhythm through varying heights and geometric relationships.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was translating dynamic clown movements into static wooden forms while preserving rhythmic essence. Historical perspectives on grotesque aesthetics required careful integration with contemporary design language. Social perspectives on clown performance interpretation varied widely, necessitating extensive research to identify universal movement patterns. Material limitations of cherry wood demanded precise calculations to achieve proper balance while maintaining visual fluidity across the five-piece sequence. Technical difficulties emerged in achieving gradual height transitions (150-350mm) that conveyed motion. The color scheme implementation required multiple prototypes to determine optimal placement of black and red accents against natural wood to emphasize transitional moments without overwhelming the subtle form language.
Research: The research explores grotesque aesthetics in dance movement visualization. It aims to decode rhythmic patterns in clown performances, translating them into visual language. Using deconstruction and reconstruction methods with digital media analysis of body movement trajectories, five cherry wood pieces of varying heights (150-350mm) were created with a black-white-red color scheme. The work dynamizes static elements through exaggerated forms, strong color contrasts, and dramatic arrangements that reinterpret traditional performance art. This research breaks visual language boundaries, demonstrates innovative fusion of traditional and modern art, and offers new approaches for public space art installations.
Inspiration: Inspired by the rhythmic movements in dance performances, particularly the exaggerated expressions of clowns. Research focused on transforming dynamic movement into static forms while preserving energetic qualities. The project explores the intersection of traditional performance art and contemporary sculpture, using wood as a medium to capture fluidity and tension in physical space.
Project Duration: The project "Rhythm" was created by Zhuoyun Xiao at Nanjing University of the Arts, China, between 2023 and 2024.
Operation Flow: Viewers circle the installation to discover how each piece captures a distinct dance moment. Varying heights create visual rhythm, guiding the eye through the sequence. Black and red accents mark transition points. The arrangement transforms static forms into perceived motion, engaging viewers in completing the dance sequence mentally. Spatial relationships between pieces amplify the dynamic quality of frozen movement.
Image Credits: Images#All: Designer and photographer Zhuoyun Xiao, Rhythm Installation View, 2024.