Innovations workshop marks 60 years of bilateral ties

Visual Voltage exhibition

The China Science and Technology Museum is showcasing until Sunday groundbreaking Swedish inventions in “Visual Voltage,” an environmental initiative and the product of years of interdisciplinary research at Sweden’s Interactive Institute.

The exhibition, which opened April 9, shows that climate-change issues are not only a concern of politicians and environmentalists but also of contemporary visual artists and designers. The items on display include many for everyday use: an energy-measuring clock, a laundry lamp and an energy curtain.

The most popular is probably the energy clock designed by Loove Broms and his partners. “The stylish clock does not tell you what time it is but alerts you to how much energy your home is consuming,” a museum guide aid. “The clock operates on a 24-hour cycle to measure energy use. The larger the pattern on the face, the more energy you are consuming.”

Magnus Jonsson, project manager of the Interactive Institute, said the exhibition “enables visitors to explore various forms of energy and reflect on energy consumption in everyday life.” He said some 50,000 people worldwide have already seen the exhibition or participated in related workshops.

The Interactive Institute is a Swedish experimental-media research institute that combines expertise in art, design and technology to conduct applied research and innovation, its site says.