SpY's vast red ovoid suspends from bridge at noor riyadh for glowing gathering point

spy’s ovoid installation emits ethereal red glow in riyadh

SpY‘s Ovoid installation suspends beneath the Wadi Hanifah Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, emanating a striking red glow. Created for Noor Riyadh, the public art festival that enlivens the city each year with luminous interventions, the 35-meter-high form occupies its urban landscape with a surreal presence, activating and transforming it into a site for sensory interaction.

Its vast form engages viewers in a dialogue about scale, materiality, and perception from each viewing point, the glow confronting and continually shifting their perceptions of space. As the viewer approaches, the ovoid reveals itself, capable of combining an overwhelming corporeal experience with a deeply evocative intimacy. 

all images by Ruben PB

the vast scale is reflected in still waters under the bridge

The vibrant red light emanating from within saturates the surrounding environment, enveloping the atmosphere with a captivating visual energy. Below the bridge, the still waters amplify the effect, reflecting the Ovoid to create an ethereal duality. Doubling its visual scale, this interplay between the physical object and its mirrored counterpart expands the work’s impact, merging reality with illusion.

Like much of SpY’s work, the Ovoid at Noor Riyadh encourages a heightened awareness of the environment, presenting a transformative experience via light and sculpture. The Spanish artist continues to blur the boundaries between art, architecture, and the natural landscape, with a creation that dominates its context with intense contrasts.

SpY completes Ovoid

suspended beneath the Wadi Hanifah Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

created for Noor Riyadh 2024

a striking red glow occupies the urban landscape

a surreal gathering space

its vast form engages viewers in a dialogue about scale, materiality, and perception

below the bridge, the still waters amplify the captivating visual interplay

the Spanish artist continues to blur the boundaries between art, architecture, and the natural landscape

project info:

name: Ovoid
artist: SpY | @spyurbanart

location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

program: Noor Riyadh | @noorriyadhfestival

dates: 28th November — 14th December, 2024

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: ravail khan | designboom