A summary on Automata

Most of the information on automata can be found on the internet. A search on the internet for “automata” would reveal numerous websites and blogs. Here is a concise summary.

Automata can be divided into historical and contemporary genres.

Historical

Automata traces it roots back to the period of antiquity, when the Greeks and Romans were mesmerising the public with animated “gods” and toys. Most of this motive power came in the form of energy from gravity-fed water or heat propulsion. When we fast forward the chronology to the Middle Ages, there were gravity-driven clocks and spring propulsion. From the 18^th century onwards, the advent of automata started in Switzerland resulting from clockwork expertise, then moved on to France where Gaelic artistic flamboyance saw the creation of doll-size mannequins dressed in fabric and brilliantly animated. These mechanisms invariably featured a key-wound spring mechanism connected to a shaft upon which numerous cams and levers would be mounted, each controlling various actions. Due to their complexity, most of the mechanisms were made of metal for durability.

This golden age of automata closed with the end of WWI, when that global conflict transformed the whole of European society and culture. Separately in Japan, there was a brief but separate development of sophisticated automata with wooden material.

Contemporary

Perhaps from about the 1960s onwards, there was a revival of interest in automata, possibly as part of a new art genre in animated sculptures. These were mainly rustic creations in wood and delighted many with their quirkiness. They were usually characterised by simple mechanisms.

With more awareness, literature became available documenting the history of automata and the principles of their mechanisms. Soon, a later group of makers started to produce more complex automata, using other materials besides wood. Some of these pieces are very big and would be classified as art installation. Most feature abstract themes as befits an emerging artform.