For the 2016 Rio Olympics, Japanese artist Mariko Mori is turning her dreams into reality – literally. Seven years ago, the artist had a dream in which a heavenly ring appeared above a waterfall, and her new work Ring: One with Nature gives shape to this vision in the form of a 3m diameter ring sculpture, which is to be suspended permanently at the peak of a 58-metre-high cascade in the Brazilian rainforest (an hour and half from Rio).
As much of Mori’s work, this new project relies on Buddhist philosophy of interconnectedness, with the ring as a symbol of ‘oneness, eternity and completeness’. Made of light reactive acrylic, the ring’s colour will evolve from hues of blue to gold, and is strategically positioned to align with the sun for the Solstice on 21 June. The project was supported by the environmental nonprofit Faou Foundation, which the artist founded in 2011 with the goal of creating monumental artworks for unique ecological environments throughout the world to spread ecological awareness. Ring: One with Nature is the result of two years of research working with engineers to create a sustainable material that is made to last.
Ring: One With Nature, will premiere on 3 August with the cultural endorsement of the Celebra Cultural Program of the Rio 2016 Olympics.
29 July 2016.
