Rarely has Perspex® Clear acrylic created such a dramatic scene as Zone Creations latest project – Trasparenza. Rising out of the Nevada Desert, this sculpture by Andrea Greenlees consumed over thirty sheets of 12mm thick Perspex® acrylic, all intricately laser cut at Zone Creations London workshop before majestically rising for 70,000 visitors at the Burning Man arts festival in America.
Zone Creations have previously worked with British artist Andrea Greenless at the festival, however this project challenged both the boundaries of design and engineering by creating one of the largest acrylic structures produced for some time rising to over 4 metres, with all components prepared in London for easy assembly once transported to the desert.
Based on sketches from the artist, Zone’s designers digitised the design into each laser cut panel pattern. Adding to the complexity of design, the sculpture was interactive with visitors encouraged to enter the structure so it needed to remain resilient to the demands of regular footfall whilst maintaining the delicate shapes and patterns within the design. The impact resistance of Perspex® Clear acrylic coupled with the rigidity of a thick 12mm sheet provided the perfect material strength whilst maintaining optimum light transmission.
Burning Man is an annual arts festival that takes place at Black Rock City—a temporary community erected in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada – which took place between August 28 – September 5th this year.
The 2016 theme was the works of Leonardo da Vinci and Trasparenza, Temple of Transparency is a playful tribute to his genius and that of the Italian Renaissance. The words ‘Saper Vedere’ meaning ‘knowing how to see’ are engraved to the entrance of the sculpture and the see through Perspex® acrylic panels enable festival revellers to congregate inside or outside and remain visible to everyone.
Adding to the sense of drama, the panels were illuminated at night and a journalist review in the Guardian newspaper described a 4am visit to Trasparenza as a “walk into a magical acrylic realm where the colours shift through countless hues”.
To find out more about working with Zone Creations and to view more information about their recent projects visit www.zone-creations.co.uk.
All photography © Wendell DeLano @explorerphoto.com