Knuggle Dome for James Joyce 2004

Rebecca Horn’s “Knuggle Dome for James Joyce” (2004) is a kinetic sculpture that utilizes a complex system of gears and levers to move six knives in a rhythmic pattern. The work, which is a tribute to the Irish novelist, is a prime example of Horn’s fascination with the interplay between the mechanical and the organic. The knives, a symbol of both danger and everyday life, are simultaneously menacing and beautiful, their movement evoking the human body and the flow of time. Horn’s work often explores themes of performance, the body, and the subconscious, making “Knuggle Dome” a captivating exploration of the power of art to both challenge and comfort.