Consumption

2008

Wood, metal, plastic, water pump, motor, and water

72" x 92" x 72"

At the time of creating Consumption, the United States was the largest consumer of electricity and the third largest user of water globally. This artwork captures this immense resource consumption through a captivating and surprising installation. It features a motor that spins a small disk at high speeds, flinging five gallons of water onto a suspended wooden ring. The water droplets, propelled by the spinning disk, hit the ring and cause it to spin. This indirect energy transfer highlights the inefficiency and waste in our consumption practices. Consumption invites viewers to marvel at its engineering and reflect critically on their own use of electricity and water, encouraging more sustainable habits.