Artists achieve dynamic effects in metal sculptures without mechanical components by harnessing natural forces and material properties. Wind is a common collaborator—carefully balanced sculptures with hollow chambers or thin metal strips resonate like wind chimes when breezes pass through. Some sculptors use thermal expansion principles, designing pieces that subtly shift shape with temperature changes.

Others exploit metal's natural harmonics by tuning sculptures to vibrate at specific frequencies when touched or exposed to environmental sounds. The Japanese artist Susumu Shingu creates entire "wind museums" where precisely weighted metal elements perform silent ballets in response to air currents.

Innovative surface treatments also create movement illusions—hammered textures catch light differently as viewers walk past, while strategically placed perforations generate moiré patterns. For sound, artists might incorporate suspended metal rods that strike each other randomly or embed hidden cavities that amplify ambient noises.

These techniques transform static metal into living artworks that engage multiple senses while maintaining pure material integrity—proving mechanics aren't essential for kinetic expression in sculpture.