A new artwork revealed at Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai shows dance of nature. The artwork has a giant lotus flower that spins and is revolved around by insects that flutter, feed, and pollinate, displaying ecological harmony.
The kinetic sculpture titled Equinox is an optical illusion, made with the help of zoetrope technology, a pre-film animation technique developed in the 17th century.
As the Equinox starts, the flower spins on the axis and the petals act as ‘shutters’ to give the appearance of movement to the insects. It will be accompanied by a selection of poems by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and English poet William Blake.
The work, commissioned by Expo 2020 Dubai specifically to be shown in Terra, is created by British artist Mat Collishaw and curated by the cultural agency Futurecity.
The Zoetrope measuring five meters high and three meters wide opens and closes by hydraulic action. Sitting on a base plate that serves as its stem, the flower can also be raised and lowered by hydraulics.
During the day, the flower will be in a closed position, with the insect models inside flitting between the 3D-printed petals through animation. In the evening, the surrounding lights will be dimmed and the work functions as a strobe zoetrope.
According to the artist, the sculpture shows the Earth’s natural ecosystems and aims to reawaken Expo visitors’ relationship with the natural world.
“My work engages with subject matter that involves an engagement with how we as humans navigate the world and the choices we make. The sustainability theme of Terra provided a context, literally and metaphorically, for an experience that invites contemplation and reflection on the precarious nature of the Earth’s ecosystem,” said Collishaw.
Equinox has been positioned in the Inner Core of Terra and comprises a 360-degree glass viewing balcony with a central opening that viewers can peer through to a shallow water reservoir where the work sits.
“Grimshaw’s architecture in the Inner Core, with its circular geometry, water reservoir, and skylight, frame the artwork in an exhilarating way, and I hope it inspires people to want to protect their environment,” Collishaw said.
Equinox will go on view at Expo 2020 Dubai, which opens to the public on Friday, October 1.