PermaDeath is an interactive sculpture which shows a change in state through a change in behavior.
It's About What's Inside
There is a locking pendulum mechanism inside the shell. If PermaDeath is knocked over the pendulum will lock in an off center position, unbalancing the sculpture and making it impossible to stand upright again.
PermaDeath arrives with a safety inserted into the mechanism, preventing the pendulum from swinging in transit. The owner is free to pull the pin whenever they would like to begin. Once it is removed it can not be reinserted.
3 State Locking Mechanism
1. Safe: The safety holds the pendulum in place.
Once PermaDeath has fallen there is no way to reset the mechanism.
It will be that way forever.
No Cheating
Ultimately I have no control over what someone does with their PermaDeath, but I have taken a few measures to discourage cheating and tampering.
A smooth silicone foot is molded into the base to make it more difficult to glue down.
PermaDeath is designed to impede nondestructive disassembly.
Once PermaDeath has fallen it can still be displayed with the assistance of a tilted plinth.
The angle at which it balances will tell you which direction it fell, forever preserving that moment.
A Permanent Change
When a vase is knocked over and shatters the change is visually apparent. Even if the vase is successfully repaired and regains its original function the cracks will still be visible.
PermaDeath is similar. Although the change is entirely internal and can not be seen, it is still apparent in the sculpture's new behavior.
The fall has changed it forever.
