Lighthouse Automaton
A kinetic sculpture exploring symbolism, memory, and motion (2019)
Ever since childhood, I’ve been captivated by lighthouses — their solitary presence, guiding light, and recurring symbolism in literature and life. During my four years living in the Bahamas, their presence on the horizon became a quiet but powerful symbol of orientation, solitude, and safe passage. That fascination formed the emotional core of this automaton project which I developed as part of my final year Bachelors project.
From the outset, I knew I wanted to create something personal — a kinetic piece that wasn’t just functional, but meaningful. Initially, I explored both lighthouse and windmill concepts, but the former felt more resonant and offered rich metaphoric potential. Once I committed to the lighthouse idea, my goal became clear: to design an automaton that embodied the quiet rhythm of sea navigation.
Inspired by a conversation with a student who had previously created a mechanical fairground ride, I refined my concept into a dynamic sculpture where four sailboats rotate around a central lighthouse — echoing the motion of horses on a carousel. This rotation not only evoked the literal circling of boats at sea, but also symbolized protection, continuity, and guidance.
The ideation phase was intuitive and iterative, filled with sketching, prototyping, and mechanical experimentation. I explored adding a functional beacon light at the top of the lighthouse — a nod to the object’s true purpose — and left space for future integration depending on time and technical feasibility.
Ultimately, this project allowed me to merge storytelling with mechanical design, and craft a piece that reflects both personal memory and universal metaphor through motion.