A Mechanical Ceiling

A mechanical ceiling installed in a dining room, that plays out over the course of an evening. Commissioned by Martin Firrell.

A sun and a moon rise and fall; a day and night take 15 minutes, with fairy light stars lighting up at night. Each course is announced by a cherub with a trumpet and a heraldic swag, indicating which course is served. Various features trigger at random: a bird and a plane take flight, thunder and lightning strike, with a metal sheet making the noise for thunder and a camera flash for lightning. Finally, a tube can be triggered to drop plastic snow.