Grönlund-Nisunen Restless Horizon, 2019
Silicone oil, distilled water, acrylic aquarium, aluminum structure, electric actuator, limit switches, control unit, power source
90 x 240 x 24 cm
A large acrylic aquarium is filled to the brim with half distilled water and half transparent silicone oil. Because silicone oil is less dense than water and they are immiscible, the oil floats on top of the water with a transparent, but clearly visible borderline between them. An electric actuator operated by limit switches and a control unit slowly tilts the aquarium back and forth, creating visible wave patterns at the boundary between the two liquids. The high viscosity of the oil makes the movement of the waves slow and dreamlike.