Photo by Finbarr Fallon. All images © ENESS, shared with permission
Iwagumi is a Japanese term that refers to the methodical arrangement of rocks in aquascaping. Usually taking on the form of bold, weighty stones resting among each other in opposition to open, airy surroundings, the distinctive art form appreciates and showcases the humble beauty of rocks. For the tenth edition of the i Light Singapore art festival in Marina Bay, art and technology studio ENESS pays homage to the creative tradition with a major installation titled Iwagumi Air Space.
The monumental work consists of sixteen prodigious rock forms placed within a grassy park, as if transforming the city into a gigantic aquarium. City dwellers wander around the rocks just like marine life exploring nooks and crannies underwater. Towering up to 13 meters high, the tallest structures mimic the upward ascent of surrounding city buildings. And although the visual indication of rugged texture makes each piece seem hefty, the bouldering forms possess a sene of weightlessness, as they are all inflatable.
Iwagumi Air Space is accompanied by an immersive soundscape that includes aural elements of “birds, night frogs, crickets, monkeys, bats and mountain streams,” says a festival statement. “As the audience moves through the installation, each rock triggers different sounds randomly adding to the overall auditory collage.” The arrangement offers passersby a momentary retreat from the bustling modern hub in an illuminated wilderness.
Visit the festival’s website to view this year’s art installations, and check out ENESS’s website and Instagram for more projects.
Photo by Finbarr Fallon
Photo by Finbarr Fallon
Photo by Finbarr Fallon
Photo by Finbarr Fallon
Photo by Finbarr Fallon
Photo by Shiya Creative Studio
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