Joule Thives

Kinetic installation:
two mice, water, mouse food, wood, plexiglass, resin, brass, various metals, aluminium, light, and electronic components; variable dimensions

Joule Thieves (2023) is an installation powered by a mouse running on a wheel, blending kinetic and electrical energy in a poetic, mechanical process. The title references "joule thief" circuits—voltage boosters—and plays on "jewel" and "thief," suggesting the act of extracting energy from the mouse's labour.

The work examines the production and symbolism of energy, a cornerstone of modern society. As the mouse runs approximately 20 kilometres nightly, its motion generates kinetic energy, stored as electrical energy in a battery. This energy, though modest, powers an analogue optical device, creating brief projections. The installation reveals energy creation's laborious and inefficient processes, critiquing sustainability notions and energy systems' assumed autonomy.

By linking natural forces, technology, and living beings, Joule Thieves speculates on alternative energy systems. It highlights the fragility of stored energy and underscores how the world’s literal and metaphorical "spinning" depends on collective effort and interconnection.

Credits:
Photo: Domen Pal
Engineer: France Petač
Electrical engineering: Gregor Krpič
Assistance in implementation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedicine
Animal behaviour consultant: Dr. Neža Grgurevič