SCULPTURE

Permanent Negative Stability

When a system in Negative Stability is displaced by a minor amount from its position of balance, it will generate a force that will move it farther from its original equilibrium. 

Negative stability is an occurrence that is mostly found in aviation. The idea is that a system is balanced (think a needle on its tip) but the smallest outside force will throw it out of balance and the motion created thus would increase until it rests in positive stability (think a cube sitting on its side, which will return to its stable state if moved). 

This is a perfect description for stones in balance. They are in Negative Stability until vibration, wind, a bird or any other force makes them lose balance and fall. In physics, negative stability can never be permanent. Permanent Negative Stability is not a scientific term. It’s a philosophical and conceptual description of this work.