JUNE 24, 2024 JACKIE ANDRES

Photo by Finbarr Fallon. All images © ENESS
For the i Light Singapore festival in Marina Bay, art and technology studio ENESS pays homage to Iwagumi with a major installation piece.

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.

Photo by Finbarr Fallon

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. […]

Photo by Finbarr Fallon

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