Inspired by ever-changing biological forms and natural ecosystems, artist John Grade sculpts large-scale installations that explore the impermanence of nature. For his latest piece, titled Reservoir, Grade visualizes the patterns of forest rainfall with a huge net structure suspended amongst the trees.
The dazzling, chandelier-like piece is featured in the Arte Sella Sculpture Park in Borgo Valsugana, Italy. It comprises 5,000 heat-formed, clear plastic compartments that each collect the rainwater as it falls. Each “droplet” is delicately formed from casts of 10 different human hands cupped together and framed with steam-bent strips of Alaskan yellow cedar.
The individual globules are attached to a pair of marine nets and fishing line which are then supported by stainless steel rings and the surrounding tree trunks. As the rain accumulates, the position of the net and droplets change, swelling or lowering, depending on the amount of precipitation. At its heaviest, Reservoir can exceed a staggering 800 pounds; but as the water evaporates, the sculpture slowly releases into its lightest, 70-pound state.
“I became most interested in the way rain falls through this grove of trees, the canopy delaying the droplet’s journey to the ground as well as how quiet and sheltered the forest was during a heavy rain,” Grade reveals. “I wanted to make a sculpture that responded to the rain directly as well as a sculpture that responded to people.”
Man-made movement also affects the sculpture’s appearance. Grade collaborated with Italian dance artist Andrea Rampazzo to choreograph an interactive performance. During the exhibition, four dancers moved around the sculpture, pulling and releasing each tree line to create varied movements in the artwork.
You can see more of Grade’s work on his website and Instagram.
John Grade visualizes the patterns of forest rainfall with his installation, Reservoir.
The dazzling, chandelier-like piece is featured in the Arte Sella Sculpture Park in Borgo Valsugana, Italy.
It comprises 5,000 heat-formed, clear plastic compartments that each collect rainwater as it falls.
As the rain accumulates and evaporates, the piece changes shape and position.
John Grade: Website | Facebook | Instagram
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by John Grade.
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