How often do we really observe all the wonders around us? The world is made-up of an infinite series of incredible miracles: the earth, humans, nature, or the sky to name a few. Things we take for granted, things that we see so often that at some point we stop seeing them.
Amsterdam-based artist Berndnaut Smilde has created an installation close to magic. It makes us question the notion of what makes a sculpture. “Nimbus” presents a beautiful floating cloud within a gallery space. Like most things in life, the installation is ephemeral, fleeting since the viewer may only experience it for a brief moment before it dissipates entirely.
When asked what he wanted to create for Probe gallery, the artist said: I imagined walking into a museum hall with just empty walls. The place even looked deserted. On the one hand I wanted to create an ominous situation. You could see the cloud as a sign of misfortune. You could also read it as an element out of the Dutch landscape paintings in a physical form in a classical museum hall. At the same time I wanted to make (for once) a very clear image, an almost cliché and cartoon like visualization of having bad luck: “Indeed, there nothing here and bullocks, it’s starting to rain!”
In addition to the Dutch landscape paintings, the floating cloud brings to mind some surrealistic paintings by René Magritte and the Blur Building in Switzerland by Diller Scofidio. A great concept and a delightful sighting, lucky those who experienced it first hand.
Cloud in room Lambda print, 75x112 cm Hotel MariaKapel, Hoorn
More of the artist’s work can be seen in his website.
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