Pisces, an artwork specially commissioned by Edinburgh International Science Festival, was unveiled in the Grand Gallery of the National Museum of Scotland this morning.
The sculpture, created by world renowned New York experimental artist Jason Hackenwerth, represents the artist’s interpretation of the legend of Aphrodite and Eros. The spiraled double helix structure has been created with more than 10,000 coloured balloons and hangs over 40 feet tall.
Jason, who was born in St Louis and now lives and works in New York and has exhibited his work around the world at galleries and museums including the Guggenheim in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and at the 51st Venice Biennale as well as in Hong Kong and Mexico. Pisces is the first artwork that he has created in Scotland.
It has taken three members of Science Festival staff six days to blow up the 10,000 balloons which have been woven into an intricate three dimensional structure by Jason and his assistant Leah Blair. It has not only proved to be backbreaking work, but Jason and his team have also to wear ear defenders to protect their hearing from the constant popping and squeaking of balloons, and protective tape on their fingers.
The sculpture will be on display in the Grand Gallery until 14th April.
(via colossal)
