ignis Aqua

“FIRE WAVE”

:: IGNIS AQUA ::

A private commission for Neal Milch in Long Island New York

The driving allegorical concepts for Ignis Aqua ( Latin for “Fire Wave”) honor the primary elements of water, fire and time.

An admirer of Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai, particularly “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” from the series “36 Views of Mount Fuji.” I mused how a view of one wave could be seen from multiple view points, if frozen in space and time. After first hand-drawing each wave profile and myriad cutwork patterns through old school pencil illustrations,  Kate sliced the wave in individual sections and viewpoints in a digital 3D model, and stacked them vertically. The viewer sees the wave arranged as if in stop-motion: delineated through time and space; allegorically viewing the sculptural form as a quantum wave of Time, and the live fire cloud as a particle, living the present moment. 

I collaborated with fire artist Ryon Gesink, lighting designer Guy Smith, and hired the phenomenal production and fabrication team UAP (urban art projects) to tame the complexity of this design into a rigorously engineered sculpture that can sustain hurricane winds. From laser-cut stainless steel sheets that form waves over a complex, compound radius structural steel form, to an internal propane and venting system that supports live fire effects, this 12ft H x 21 ft w s 24ft L artwork is a symphony of many different logistic elements. Through collaboration with the 3D modeling team and many visits to the foundry, Neal Milch, Ryon and I were able to guide the talented Rock Tavern artisans as they drove the project and synthesized the essential sculptural balance of robust engineering and aesthetic grace.

Client: Neal Milch, Sculpture Artist: Kate Raudenbush, Fire Artist: Ryon Gesink, Lighting Artist: Guy Smith, 3D modeling: Wing Lau, Rober Wrazen, Margaret Hewitt, Fabrication Lead: Mike List

Read more on our website:  UAPcompany.com

Fire Artist: Ryon Gesink instagram/RyonGesink

Lighting Artist: Guy Smith Instagram/freeradicaldesigngroup

Select Images credit Chis Roque courtesy of UAP/ Urban Art Projects