tomás saraceno: cloud cities at hamburger bahnhof, berlin

tomás saraceno: cloud cities
hamburger bahnhof, museum für gegenwart, berlin, germany
on now until january 15, 2012


detail of the human-sculpture interaction component of the installation in addition to the succulent-decorated structures spread through out the show
tomás saraceno 'cloud cities', 2011 installationsansicht hamburger bahnhof
© staatliche museen zu berlin; photo: tomás saraceno

argentinian-born and german-based artist tomás saraceno's 'cloud cities' installation is currently on display at hamburger bahnhof
in berlin. the body of work is a collection of geometric, inflated shapes that challenge the notions of place, space,
future and gravity; saraceno seeks to explain through the exhibition how human beings live in combination
with their environment. 'cloud cities' is an architectural piece in which the interaction between the viewer and the collection
is a crucial aspect of the installation. these inflated, bubble and spider web-like gardens form communal ground
between the earth and sky, aiding in the reorientation of physical representation of environmental influence.

as the museum-goer walks through the grand hall, each of the cloud city-pods is suspended in the air at various heights,
either dotted with succulents or lined with symmetrical string patterning. two of the twenty balloons in this pseudo-biosphere
have accessible public entry. the viewer may climb a ladder to tread upon the diameter on the sphere,
or rest on the floor of a dome which is covered in a mossy sort of cactus; in this interaction,
saraceno initiates an understanding of the interaction between humans and both air and land.
the architect's interest in utopian theory is articulated in the boundlessness of 'cloud city';
the installation serves as a geometric stand-in for human interaction with the environment in its entirety.

museum patrons recline on the bubble surface portion of the dome piece
tomás saraceno 'cloud cities', 2011 installationsansicht hamburger bahnhof
© staatliche museen zu berlin; photo: tomás saraceno



detailed view water-filled weighted bubbles, used to holding the spheres in place
tomás saraceno 'cloud cities', 2011 courtesy: tomás saraceno

view of a mathematical structure featured in the 'cloud-cities' collection
tomás saraceno, 'cloud cities', 2011 installationsansicht hamburger bahnhof
© staatliche museen zu berlin; photo: jens ziehe



detailed view of the cactus and water system for an environment within the piece
tomás saraceno 'cloud cities', 2011 installationsansicht hamburger bahnhof
© staatliche museen zu berlin; photo: jens ziehe
 

conceptual sketch of the project
tomás saraceno 'cloud cities', 2011 courtesy: tomás saraceno

conceptual drawing of the installation, to-scale
tomás saraceno 'cloud cities' entwurfszeichnung hamburger bahnhof 2011, courtesy: tomás saraceno




video courtesy of vernissagetv