sunrise tender vortex by normal studio presented at museo MAR

sunrise tender vortex by normal studio presented at museo MAR
images courtesy of manuel ciarlotti, nina carrara 

‘sunrise tender vortex’ was exhibited in the horizontes de deseo (horizons of desire) show at museo MAR in mar del plata, argentina. completed by architect martin huberman and team at normal studio, the piece provided a simple look at the human fascination with natural phenomena. as evidence of this sentiment, it allowed visitors the chance to observe, study, inhabitant, and maybe for a moment grasp, the fathomlessness of mother nature.
 

from second floor

influenced by the dramatic imagery of tornados, hurricanes, and tropical storms; their sheer power conveyed by nothing more than a simple form, it was decided that they would construct a full-scale wooden rendition. the ‘sunrise tender vortex’ hangs at a total of 11 meters, and is constructed with 68,000 clothespins dyed in a distinct gradient that grows from a base below. 

colors move similarly to that of a seaside sunset fading into night 

beneath the vortex, is a large circular resting spot made of wood and gold-painted rubber upholstery. the surface is highly reflective, and ties in the works’ alternate theme — the sight of a sunrise, or set, on the sea. moving upwards, colors fade from the bright daytime sun, through dusk, and into night. starting at the top — located above the second floor — it transitions oppositely, from night to day.

a resting spot below lets guests see their reflection in the mirror located within

a mirror placed in the ‘vortex’s’ interior interrogates those who gaze upon it, questioning human desire and why we attempt to observe, understand, and reconstruct the doings of nature. using a simple construction units, ‘sunrise tender vortex’ reawakens viewers’ senses, tying the commonplace trivialities of life, with one of the most profound encounters in the natural world. 

reflection of the mirror from below 

inside ‘tender vortex’ during construction  

68,000 wooden colored clothespins were used 

the chromatic scale is derived from the sunrise on the sea

aniline-dyed clothespins 

project info:

design: martin huberman, normal™ studio
team: arq. martin huberman, arq. nina carrara
developed by: estudio normal™, arquitectura constructiva, phi producciones
exhibition: horizontes de deseo (horizons of desire) curated by rodrigo alonso
commissioned by: instituto cultural de la provincia de buenos aires, museum of contemporary art of buenos aires mar del plata, argentina
year: december 2014
dimensions: 11m high x ø4,5m.>ø1,5m
materials: 68,000 dyed wooden clothespins, nylon net, metallic structure, laminated mirror ø4,5m
resting spot: wood, golden rubbered textile ø4,25m
photography: manuel ciarlotti, nina carrara

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: nick brink | designboom