Between Stillness and Storm is an artwork by Aidan Moesby that seeks the intersection of what he characterises as ‘a dual crisis in climate change and mental health’. Realised in collaboration with artist Tim Shaw and produced by Kerry Harker, the work toured northern festival venues during summer 2017. The large-scale, outdoor installation repurposes weather-sensing equipment as kinetic sculptural forms to stimulate conversations about climate change and wellbeing. Only presented to date in its research and development phase, the work was funded by Unlimited Impact and the Northern Festival Network.

Within the installation, a core architecture of large, white weather balloons is supported by a framework of additional equipment that responds to changing weather conditions. Collectively, they create a series of aesthetic and auditory effects – light, sound, motion. Solar energy captured during daylight hours is later released into inflated weather balloons to power internal LED lights, reconfiguring them after dark as spectral, floating ‘lanterns.’ Anemometers (devices used for measuring wind speed and direction) crown a series of sculptural ‘trees’, harnessing wind power to play bells attached to the structures: as the wind increases, the bells become more animatedly musical. A series of small ‘solar synthesisers’ installed as a sound array of units on supporting poles of varying lengths respond to sunlight by emitting shrill monotonal cries or deeper, resonant sounds depending on audio components in the synthesiser and according to variation in the sun’s intensity.

Adding to these elements that directly sense the weather, pre-recorded weather sounds are played back beneath a canopy of black umbrellas to provide a listening booth. A flip-dot unit of the type more commonly used on advertising sites displays quotations about the weather from historical and popular cultural sources. The installation can additionally be enhanced with contact microphones and hydrophones where the environment enables this. 

Importantly, Moesby’s installation works entirely off-grid, not merely representing climate change but enacting an alternative set of values by probing the limitations of presenting artwork on an ambitious scale using solar and wind power. The work meditates on climate change and wellbeing by using these effects to stimulate conversations with an audience. The variety of modules offers different pathways to engagement, enabling visitors to become co-creators of their interactions with the work.

Between Stillness and Storm was shown at:

Bluedot Festival, Jodrell Bank, Cheshire (7-9 July)

Underneath The Stars Festival, Cannon Hall Farm, Barnsley (21-23 July)

Cloudspotting, Gisburn Forest (28-30 July) 

Just So Festival, Rode Hall, Cheshire (18-20 August)

Ramsbottom Festival, Ramsbottom Cricket Ground (15-17 September)

A text about the work, co-authored by Harker and Moesby, will be published in January 2026 as part of the University of Huddersfield’s Cultures of Climate programme.

Read more about Aidan Moesby’s work in this online profile by Dave Pritchard for Corridor8.