“18 Straw Figures Contest for One Rolling Head at the Kinetic Round Table”

Seoul-based creator Choe U-Ram’s sculptural performance known as *Round Table* grabs attention and leaves a lasting impression. This kinetic artwork employs robotics to animate otherwise lifeless objects, raising questions about humanity and the ways in which scarcity can lead to conflict, both within and among individuals.

Debuted in 2022, *Round Table* showcases 18 headless figures crafted from artificial straw, each supporting a circular surface on their backs. Atop this large table-like formation sits a straw ball. Choe describes this as the “head,” a crucial element in the performance of the piece. The head rolls back and forth across the table, with every figure attempting to seize it for themselves. Yet, as each straw figure rises to catch the head, the inclined table causes the ball to roll farther away. In this scenario, the straw bodies are yearning for something perpetually out of reach. Like Sisyphus and his boulder, they are ensnared in an endless struggle.

Besides its captivating performance, *Round Table* is also a wondrous display of intricate machinery and kinetic sculpture. The piece is designed to create the illusion that the head might tumble off the edge of the table—but it never does. There are no barriers preventing the straw ball from slipping off the surface, yet Choe has ensured that it remains in place. A camera mounted on the ceiling monitors the head’s position, relaying data to a computer to determine the ball’s next movement.

Watch below to witness *Round Table* in motion.

**Artist Choe U-Ram designed a kinetic sculpture called *Round Table*. It consists of 18 headless figures made from artificial straw that carry a circular surface on their backs.**

The head rolls back and forth across the table, with each body striving to take possession of it. However, as each straw figure rises to grasp the head, the sloping table propels the ball further away.

**Choe U-Ram:** [Website](http://www.uram.net/eng_new/intro_en.html) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIIAvC6362dvX-VIHrw88FA/videos?view_as=subscriber)

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