You might want to fly into Los Angeles just for a glimpse of conceptual artist Chris Burden’s Metropolis II. A colossal mechanical masterpiece and ambitious upgrade from Metropolis I,Metropolis II houses 1,100 cars, 18 roadways and some 40 skyscrapers. The piece was reportedly sold for “millions of dollars” before being donated to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for display over the next 10 years.
How does it work? Both the cars and conveyor belts have magnets embedded within them. The two interact to usher the miniature automobiles forward at a speed of 230mph, making for a smoother and safer, so to speak, ride. As in any real city, accidents and traffic miscalculations are unavoidable. “I’ve seen spectacular pile-ups involving cars that spill off the road and derail trains,” Burden admits.
The inspiration behind Metropolis II was surprisingly pragmatic. In an interview with Co & Design, Burden says “we spent so much time and effort on R&D on the first one…we wanted to expand it and make it truly overwhelming – the noise and level of activity are both mesmerizing and anxiety provoking”. Though the 10-feet tall by 28-feet long Metropolis II is likely to remain a dream, urban planners and miniature automobile buffs would find it worthwhile to relish – and perhaps be inspired by – the network of smooth running highways.
(Source: Co.Design)
