Climb (2021)
The project Climb was created for a competition announced by the Singer-Zahariev Foundation – a private family foundation established to support contemporary art. An excerpt of the open call follows.
"The site-specific artwork to be commissioned will be situated in a contemporary living space in a rural location which – in addition to being a private residence – will also host art events and works from the Singer-Zahariev collection of contemporary art. The architectural and artistic concept seeks to achieve a symbiosis between modern architecture and contemporary art in a rural setting in the Balkan Mountains. The work will be situated in a small rectangular internal open courtyard measuring 4.2 m² with a height of 3.3 m."
Concept
I see the inner yard of the house not only as a Center of the Home/World but as a connection between the home and sky as well. It resembles an observatory where we observe the stars and the space comes down to us - a place for communion between Man and Universe. As an elevator shaft, it conveys us between different worlds or levels of existence just as the shamans travel along the World Axis (Axis mundi) that is often represented by the World Tree (Arbor mundi).
I would like to stress and intensify this givenness and to create an object that embodies the relation between human and cosmic through an imaginary up/downward movement.
Any object that does not leave or lead the eyes out of this sacred space would simply reduce it to a box. Therefore, I have evolved an elongated form that goes beyond the limits of the inner yard.
As the yard is relatively small, the object to be created should not be too voluminous in order to allow enough light to inform the inner yard and the rooms that surround it.
Last, not least it is important how this object would look like at night. A professionally illuminated sculpture may represent quite a different and spectacular view.
The chosen form of a strongly elongated pyramid is a symbolic representation of the World Tree. Starting from a wide base, its sides bend elegantly to amplify the feeling of an endless motion that reaches out to space and in the same time brings the sky down to us. The step-like structure evokes the impression of an endless ladder traversing time and space and connecting the terrestrial and celestial realms.
Dimensions (subject to change)
Height: 481.5 cm
Width: 180 cm
Depth: 144 cm
Materials (subject to change)
Material: stainless steel or aluminum (Al 5083*) sheets
Thickness: 4/5 mm
Structural elements: structural steel (HSS) with various sections
* The 5083 aluminum alloy with magnesium and traces of manganese and chromium is highly resistant to attack by seawater and industrial chemicals. Excellent in a wide range of atmospheric environments and architectural applications.
I see the inner yard of the house not only as a Center of the Home/World but as a connection between the home and sky as well. It resembles an observatory where we observe the stars and the space comes down to us - a place for communion between Man and Universe. As an elevator shaft, it conveys us between different worlds or levels of existence just as the shamans travel along the World Axis (Axis mundi) that is often represented by the World Tree (Arbor mundi).
I would like to stress and intensify this givenness and to create an object that embodies the relation between human and cosmic through an imaginary up/downward movement.
Any object that does not leave or lead the eyes out of this sacred space would simply reduce it to a box. Therefore, I have evolved an elongated form that goes beyond the limits of the inner yard.
As the yard is relatively small, the object to be created should not be too voluminous in order to allow enough light to inform the inner yard and the rooms that surround it.
Last, not least it is important how this object would look like at night. A professionally illuminated sculpture may represent quite a different and spectacular view.
The chosen form of a strongly elongated pyramid is a symbolic representation of the World Tree. Starting from a wide base, its sides bend elegantly to amplify the feeling of an endless motion that reaches out to space and in the same time brings the sky down to us. The step-like structure evokes the impression of an endless ladder traversing time and space and connecting the terrestrial and celestial realms.
Dimensions (subject to change)
Height: 481.5 cm
Width: 180 cm
Depth: 144 cm
Materials (subject to change)
Material: stainless steel or aluminum (Al 5083*) sheets
Thickness: 4/5 mm
Structural elements: structural steel (HSS) with various sections
* The 5083 aluminum alloy with magnesium and traces of manganese and chromium is highly resistant to attack by seawater and industrial chemicals. Excellent in a wide range of atmospheric environments and architectural applications.
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