VENUS, Giant singing statue
Date
2008
Location
Sziget Festival, Octopus Joint Art Scene
Size
Height of statue: 5m
Height of foot-stall: 1.2m
Materials
Statue: textile (ballonstopff), belts, ropes
Foot-stall: waterproof laminated sheets
Client
Sziget Ltd.
Staff
Concept: András Gross
Planning, implementation: Medence Csoport, Péter Koros, Kálmán Nyilas
Sound concept: Aliz Miklusicsák
Singing voices: 6:00h: Evelin Tóth, 12:00h: Anne-Clarie Merucci, 16:00h: Marika Siposné, 20:00h Aliz Miklusicsák, 24:00h: Erzsi Kiss.
Short description
The 5m tall luminous ancestor speaks to the inhabitants of Sziget five times a day. Staying in the middle of Octopus scene the giant Venus of Willendorf “speaks” five times per day. Five women of different age bring out their age and the progress of time through five songs of different tones. “The woman” sings ritually to the inhabitants of the festival every day at the very same moments when they are beginning to awake, having lunch or fornicating.
Details
The structure is made of airtight textile strengthened with stitched string mesh. A centrifugal fan holds the structure under higher pressure than the atmospheric pressure. The above three factors are responsible for preserving the shape of the statue. This technique is suitable for creating large and spectacular installations which are easy to be carried because of their relatively small weight and packing size. (This 5m tall statue for example can be fold up to the size of a backpack.)
The used materials are resistant to stress and weather, so this solution is suitable at all points to implement the installation. The installation can be split into two units: the Venus statue made of textile and the foot-stall which has multiple functions: it includes the electronic components (fan, sound technics, lighting, etc.) and gives them protection against rain, respectively it contains fixing points for the installation of the statue.
