During van Weeghel’s studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Amersfoort, Netherlands, he created a wall piece for an assignment. As he was organizing the pieces in order to find the best composition, he had an epiphany: “It would be great if all the pieces actually moved through all the positions.” This was his first piece of kinetic art. Van Weeghel was struck by the symbiosis between art and technology and decided to become a professional artist. He carved his niche for kinetic art and has never looked back.

Hidden from the observer, integrated into the back of the art, is a computer system programmed to operate sophisticated machinery. Using this technology, van Weeghel choreographs a dynamic dance with objects forming geometric patterns that constantly change at a variety of speeds, methodically created with precision, each work operating in complete silence.

The team at the M.A.D.Gallery is thrilled to house this collection in its Geneva location. “Willem van Weeghel is the epitome of why our gallery exists,” says Max Büsser, founder of the M.A.D.Gallery and kinetic art enthusiast. “Willem's work is not only visually mesmerizing: most visitors, me included, are constantly wondering how it works. Outside-the-box creativity, enormous talent, state-of-the-art engineering, thousands of hours of skilled work, and at the end a pure object of beauty.”

Visually impressive at a size measuring 154 x 154 x 16.6 cm, “Dynamic Structure 171113” strikes a contrast of ebony-colored shapes against a hand-painted white canvas. Adding to the visual experience is the seamless movement of eight identical elements shaped at right angles and lines that perpetually shift position by rotating on four points. Each point has two axes, allowing the objects to move independently from each other in two directions and at a variety of speeds. It is easy to marvel at this dynamic work as patterns endlessly form and dissolve right before your eyes.

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Changing to a blue hue, “Dynamic Structure 61114 B” sees the canvas filled with six T-shaped elements in bright cobalt rotating across a deep navy-blue background. The fluid movement of this composition along with the brilliant use of color evokes the characteristics of a kaleidoscope – only enlarged to a 120 square-centimeter canvas. Time seems to stand still when observing the endless geometric patterns unfold in this work of art.

It all starts with an image in his head. “First, I have the idea in my mind and I make a simple drawing – I have a lot of sketchbooks – just to remember the thought or idea. Usually, the good ideas pop back in my mind all the time even after a couple months. If that is the case, I take that idea and try to build or evaluate it,” the artist explains. Van Weeghel fleshes his ideas out in computer animation to test all the possible movements. If successful, it is then constructed in a 3D computer- aided drafting (CAD) program.

At the same time, van Weeghel develops the computer software program that coordinates the movement between all the elements. The focus of van Weeghel’s work is the everchanging, fluid motion in his compositions. “I always work from the front. I have an idea of what the spectator should see or should feel with the piece and then I try to achieve it with technical means,” van Weeghel describes his method.