At first it seems that a puddle of ink has been spilt on the table, closer inspection reveals a microcosms of complex behaviors, at its center it appears to be draining through a hole in the table, but the puddle never gets smaller. Perpetual Puddle Vortex film.. The perpetual puddle vortex draws in fluid and air, and instantly re-circulates it back in to the puddle, so the puddle never disappears. Underneath the puddle is a vortex generating device, this does not simply spin the puddle; the liquid drops down a hole only magically the puddle never reduces.

Puddle vortex detail, Station Bristol 2001. Perpetual Coffee Vortex detail, Arnolfini, Bristol 2001

Over the day the puddle produces a continual array of ever changing patterns, in foam, or a thin layer of floating oil. The work changes according to temperature and moisture levels and light. Again the understanding of surface tension is essential to this work. The tabletop finish is highly hydrophobic, thus maintain the bead like edge of the puddle. The floor must be vibration free to avoid the puddle spilling off the table. The oils mixed in are a combination of volatile petroleum and mineral oil. The colours are created though diffraction, according to the thickness of the oil, and the thickness depends on the speed of the flow in the puddle, so the colours change as the fluid accelerates towards the center of the vortex. Puddle Vortex Commissioned for Station Bristol 2001 and shown at 'Station to Station' SpaceX, Exeter 2002 Perpetual Coffee Vortex. Commissioned by Arnolfini, Bristol 2001 See also Chemicals Cymatics Coffee Fluids Home

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