Koan no longer alone: new installation outside Arts Centre

A new art installation which has been under construction outside the Arts Centre has opened on Wednesday 19 November.

The new installation entitled ‘The Pool’ was created by Colorado-based sculptor Jen Lewin and was donated to the venue to celebrate the University’s 40th anniversary.

The interactive artwork consists of one hundred LED-lit disks which change colour when stepped on, creating a kaleidoscopic light-show.

It will stand near the Art Centre’s entrance immediately next to the Koan, Warwick’s existing sculpture, where the two will collectively illuminate the square each night after 4pm for the duration of the exhibition.

According to Jen Lewin’s website: “The Pool is inherently interactive and creates its own form of community within the sculpture itself.”

It aims to get participants collaborating to produce a range of vibrant and colourful patterns, creating a feeling of collective contribution. The title of the work is a reference to the verb ‘to pool’ – that is, to combine, merge or blend.

James Pickering, a Third-Year Engineering Undergraduate, commented on the artwork: “I think it’s great. It’s colourful, it’s beautiful to look at, and a great addition next to the Koan”.

The artwork has already travelled to a variety of destinations including Singapore and Texas. It is hoped that the public interest generated by the sculpture may benefit the University through increased publicity.

The Pool will be on display until December 2.