The first Percorsi fluidi (“Fluid Paths”) were presented on the occasion of the 9th Spoleto Award: Superficie a percorsi fluidi (“Surface with Fluid Paths”) and Grande percorso fluido (“Large Fluid Path”). There are several different versions: Percorsi fluidi spiralici (“Spiralling Fluid Paths”), Strutturazione liquida elicoidale (“Helical Liquid Structuration”), Percorsi fluidi cubici (“Cubic Fluid Paths”) and Percorsi fluidi cubici rotanti (“Rotating Cubic Fluid Paths”) exhibited at Miriorama 12, and Percorsi fluidi orizzontali (“Horizontal Fluid Paths”), the only motorised and lit version.

In the earliest versions, hand pressure animates a mix of coloured liquid and air moving within small transparent tubes. The structure is made of lacquered wood, while wooden pins keep the tubes in place. The small plastic cans initially used to hold the liquid, are substituted by rubber bulbs.

Percorsi fluidi spiralici is made of a round aluminium structure holding a tube wrapped into a double spiral. At both ends of the tube, a set of two hidden bulbs are enacted by the pressure of a lever.

Strutturazione liquida elicoidale is made of a metallic cylinder hinged at both ends to a set of two brackets supporting two ball bearings. A series of plexiglass tubes half filled with liquid are attached to the cylinder according to a helical pattern. The work is enacted by a motor.

Percorsi cubici rotanti is a cube whose edges are made of welded metal elements with a L section. The cube is set at eye level and is hinged at opposite edges to a set of two brackets supporting ball bearings. The tube is wrapped around the cubic structure. The movement is enacted by hand.

Percorsi cubici has a structure made of iron or brass varnished rods to which the tube is wrapped. The movement is again enacted manually.

Percorsi fluidi orizzontali builds a vision device where the movement of liquids in the tubes has a spatial depth. The work is made of a square base resting on a square tube. At the end of the tube, a neon lamp lights up a surface of matt white glass. In front of this lit screen, a series of tubes with the usual mix of coloured liquid and air is set horizontally and scaled in depth. The work is enacted by a motor which presses alternatively two large rubber bulbs through a set of two cams.

Artist: Giovanni Anceschi
Title: Percorsi fluidi (“Fluid Paths”)
Date:1961
Exhibition: IX Premio Spoleto, Miriorama 11, 12, Arte programmata