Large Scale Installation – synthetic nature

The final trial of the lighting was done on the 26th June, using the blue LED string lights going up the back, the EL wire threaded through the milk bottles, and then a large camping light placed on the inside of the wave protected inside a plastic blue container, which also casts a nice hue and gives a glow from the inside so the whole wave is illuminated. We also have a smaller light (but is still very powerful) that we may add inside, but this decision will be made when in situ and depending on how dark the car park is.

The wave in itself is completed, however, we have left a gap in the large sheets of plastic that are sewn onto the sides so we can change the batteries that we will cable tie each time, the pallets we are attaching the wave onto need the top coat of black paint (this will conceal them), nail the frame at the base to the pallets using industrial staples, and also attach the trailing plastic to the pallets. This all has to be done when setting up, on location, so we will have to allow time to make these final adjustments.

Images are our own.

While researching for other designs and installations that are similar to the wave we are in the process of creating, I came across this amazing work that was created by an artist at the UNCED (as part as the UN Conference on Sustainable Development) to bring attention to the plastic pollution within the oceans. This huge construction is located at the Botafogo beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The same bottles used for the work were retrieved from the Botafogo beach itself. The giant fish cast a blue glow as they are each lit up from inside, there are also colour changing spotlights shining light onto the installation and also on the sand which creates beautiful ripples that strongly resemble ocean tides.

These images show the large scale of the installation, showing it against people. Image one shows it in day light, and it still looks so powerful! The second image depicts a glimpse as to how the plastic bottles are joined together. The bottom image shows two of the three giant fish lit up at dusk against the beautiful Botafogo beach landscape.

This installation is not only related to our concept of plastic pollution in the seas, but also the scale and impact of the work against the darkness is something we plan to achieve with our Wave. It is also an example of a successful armature, we can bring these ideas and inspirations to our own work.

References;

Image 1, 2, and 3 retrieved from,

My Modern Met. “Glowing Giant Fish Made Of Discarded Plastic Bottles.” http://www.mymodernmet.com. 2012. Botafogo beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Accessed May 27, 2016. http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/giant-fish-sculpture-un-conference-on-sustainable-development.

Information from;

Jobson, Christopher. “Giant Fish Sculptures Made from Discarded Plastic Bottles in Rio.” Colossal. Last modified June 21, 2012. Accessed 27 may 2016 http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/06/giant-fish-sculptures-made-from-discarded-plastic-bottles-in-rio/.

TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc., and United Nations Conference On Sustainable Development. “Artist At UNCED Creates Fish Sculptures Out Of Plastic Bottles, Draws Attention To Plastic Debris In Ocean (PHOTOS).” The Huffington Post. Last modified June 21, 2012. Accessed 27 May 2016. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/21/fish-made-of-bottles_n_1617018.html.

Twisted Sifter. “Giant Fish Sculptures Made from Discarded Plastic Bottles «TwistedSifter.” TwistedSifter. Last modified June 23, 2012. Accessed 27 May 2016. http://twistedsifter.com/2012/06/giant-fish-sculptures-made-from-discarded-plastic-bottles-brazil/.

Upcycle That, and Twisted Sifter. “Plastic Bottle Fish Sculptures | Upcycle That.” Upcycling Ideas and Inspiration | Upcycle That. Last modified 2012. Accessed 27 May 2016. http://www.upcyclethat.com/plastic-bottle-fish-sculptures/.

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Tag: Large Scale Installation

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