tomas saraceno: 59 steps to be on air solar powered hot air balloon

’59 steps to air – by sun power ‘ by tomàs saracenopolypropylene, bike wheel rim, fan, etc.dimensions variableimage courtesy tomàs saraceno

tomàs saraceno regularly emphasizes his engagement with engineering and the biological sciences through his monumental works, intersecting the worlds of architecture, art and physics with potent acuity. saraceno’s continued exploration of habitation constantly operates at a threshold, with his latest iteration titled ’59 steps to be on air by sun power’. the project is presented as a set of instructions that explain the sequence for crafting a hot-air balloon style flying device, designed to float solely on the power of solar – using garbage bags, transparent tape, rope, bicycle wheels and other flotsam jetsam materials to fabricate the structure. the process is broken down into 59 highly detailed steps, downloadable here.

the work is designed to float solely on the power of solar – using garbage bags, transparent tape, rope, bicycle wheels and other flotsam jetsam materials to fabricate the structurephoto © atsushi nakamichi/nacàsa partnersimage courtesy fondation d’entreprise hermès

with two people working, the undertaking requires about 24 hours to complete. here saraceno showcases the fantasy of ‘people afloat on the sky’ as an  immediate and attainable reality – a project able to be built by almost anybody in a single day. the concept was first revealed in 2003, where the artist crafted the balloon and documented the functioning creation in the argentinian skies. shown in the format of an installation at maison hermes in ginza tokyo, the prototype – fashioned from black garbage bags –  was able to be experienced in a unique way, where visitors were invited to crawl into the interior of the balloon and explore the structure. the work reinforces saraceno’s importance as a protagonist and catalyst for the development of critical social science –  interlocking concepts, materials, forces that include human and non-human agents as the ingredients for a greater, valuable social knowledge.

 the project is presented as a set of instructions that explains the sequence for crafting a hot-air balloon style flying deviceimages courtesy tomàs saraceno

with two people working, the undertaking requires about 24 hours to complete can be built by almost anybody in a single dayimage courtesy tomàs saraceno

the prototype – fashioned from black garbage bags –  was able to be experienced in a unique way, where visitors were invited to crawl into the interior of the balloon and explore the structurephoto © atsushi nakamichi/nacàsa partnersimage courtesy fondation d’entreprise hermès

photo © atsushi nakamichi/nacàsa partnersimage courtesy fondation d’entreprise hermès

image courtesy tomàs saraceno

the first four steps of the ’59 steps to be on air’ – see the remaining detailed steps hereimage courtesy tomàs saraceno