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INSPIRED BY ANTIQUITY
THE ART-IKYTHERA MECHANISM
Hilton | Asmus
Contemporary
cordially invites you to a cocktail reception
"An Evening with Terry Poulos"
Wednesday * January 27 * 6 to 8 pm
Artist, writer, inventor and historian Terry Poulos will be presenting
his modern rendition of the world's oldest computer based on the
Antikythera Mechanism,
a hand powered astronomical calculator dating back to 205 BC.
ART-IKYTHERA,
cast iron, steel, and painted patina
"Art-ikythera" pays homage to an ancient example of ingenuity and technological innovation.
On display at Hilton-Asmus Contemporary is the world's first sculpture of what is considered the world's oldest computer, the
Antikythera Mechanism
(est. 205 BC). The ancient device, strongly connected to the workshop of artisans directly working with the legendary inventor/polymath
Archimedes of Syracuse
(215 BC), had a complexity not equaled for 1500 years after its inception. The hand-cranked, bronze-geared device, confirmed by the construction of three separate working models post-2005, was an astronomical calculator consisting of 20 to 40 gears, cogs, and other accoutrements. Among other functions, it tracked motions of the five known planets of that era, predicted lunar and solar eclipses to the precise day and hour thousands of years in advance in accordance with its 18,000-year Saros calendar, and informed of various cultural events including when to host the ancient Olympic games every four years. It was a quantum-leap advance for its day, a mysteriously and bafflingly complex device which demands a rewrite of textbooks worldwide on the capabilities of the ancients.
The 2000 year old computer:
Decoding the Antikythera Mechanism 2012
A natural storyteller, native Chicagoan Terry Poulos, whose
work is in the permanent collection of the British Museum will recount the history of his inspiration and discuss the process of creating the
ART-ikythera Mechanism
and his other sculpted works
Archimedes Vortex
and
Atlantean Continuum
on Wednesday, January 27th.
Having closely followed science, math, philosophy, nature, and archeology for 20 years, and having read myriad books and periodicals and combined with interviews and research/writing for feature articles on various scientists, Poulos has acquired a profound appreciation for and insight into the sciences and humanities. He is a member of the Classical Arts Society of the Art Institute of Chicago, co-founder of Chicago's Greek Media Club, and a Charter Member of the National Hellenic Museum.
Poulos is the first artist to present his work in the
Inspired by Antiquity series, which
parallels the Field Museum's groundbreaking exhibition
"The Greeks: From Agamemnon to Alexander the Great,"
on display from November 2015 through April 2016. While
"The Greeks"
sheds light on the fascinating history of ancient Greece and Rome,
Inspired by Antiquity
illustrates the unbroken line of inspiration in art from ancient times to the present.
We look forward to seeing you Wednesday, January 27, 6 to 8 pm.
HILTON |
ASMUS
CONTEMPORARY
716 N. Wells
Chicago, IL 60654
tel: 312.475.1788
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