SANDSCAPE - Moving Granular Art

A Beautiful and Peaceful Distraction

Reviewed 28 November by Ivy

I know it says in the description but it's worth reiterating; this is not a toy, it is made of glass, it's not for children. But if you are mature enough to not use it as a Frisbee, then there is much to enjoy about it. The clear section is glass, the frame and stand are rigid, black plastic with a nice matt finish, comfortable texture to touch and fit for purpose. It doesn't make a sound and it doesn't smell. The fun bit: The disc contains black sand, white sand, gold glitter, clear liquid and air bubbles (the bubbles are not a mistake). When you turn the disc, gravity takes effect, and the sand falls to the bottom, simple, but it's the way it does it that is so great. The air bubbles block the sand from falling all at once, so these little dusty waterfalls appear at random. The grains move through the liquid like smoke curling through the air, or a drop of ink into water. You can tilt the disc to move the bubbles and release or block sand as and when you feel like it. I was worried that after a few turns the colours would mix and I'd just have a uniform grey, but that doesn't happen. I think the different colours fall at different rates, so you always get layers rather than a mix of colours. The touch of gold glitter really makes it special, adding extra interest without making it childish. Personally I don't have trouble with focus or attention span, but I speculate it might be a useful tool for someone hoping to improve those skills, since it does take a few minutes for the sand to resettle, but there is something going on while your waiting for the end result. And the end result is lovely; think 'mountain and desert landscapes' glinting in the light. I find this Sandscape disc a restful way to spend a few minutes every now and then, and in-between, it's a subtle and decorative object to have in the room.