A Swing Set That Powers An Electric Light With Every Pump

In Guimarães, Portugal, the art collective Moradavaga installed a swing set that’s even better after the sun sets. Swinging is a self-contained pleasure, an activity where the work and reward are one in the same. But for their pop-up installation outside the International Centre for the Arts in Guimarães, Portugal, the art collective Moradavaga added an unexpected twist to the childhood pastime: a little bit of light, powered solely by the motion of the swings themselves. Each swing is connected by a chain to a bicycle wheel behind it. When the swinger starts pumping, a dynamo attached to the spinning wheel powers two lights, located beneath planks under the swinger’s feet. The electrical system runs "hidden from view," the creators explained, creating a bit of a surprise for swingers when a soft glow of light appears underfoot.Read Full Story