Above: Changi Airport says Kinetic Rain is the world’s largest kinetic sculpture.

An airport departure hall may not traditionally have been thought of as fertile ground on which to display contemporary art, but that hasn’t stopped Changi Airport from installing the world’s largest moving sculpture in Terminal One.

Each of Kinetic Rain’s 1,216 bronze droplets is controlled by motors and encoders hidden from view in the ceiling– their slow, fluid movement dictated with precision.

Visible from most areas of the newly revamped check-in hall, the specially commissioned installation took a team of artists and programmers 20 months to complete. Among the unique patterns on display, visitors will recognize more familiar shapes– a kite, an airplane and a hot air balloon.