Client: European Cultural Centre of Italy

Overview

Meryl Taradash, an award-winning kinetic sculptor presents “Sisyphus”. Her work makes use of wind and light in their design.

On April 23rd, her wind-driven sculpture “Sisyphus” opened for public viewing in the group exhibition “Personal Structures” curated by the European Cultural Centre (ECC) of Italy. Displayed until Nov.27th and organized in parallel to the 2022 Venice Biennale, the ECC_Italy created this exhibition to broaden the scope of making art accessible to all.

“When I was first invited to submit my idea for a sculpture in the Marinaressa Gardens, I envisioned my existing kinetic sculpture “Sisyphus” there. Its Mӧbius loops reach high, towards infinity and yet the center remains calm. A wind-activated kinetic work, the sculpture balances and rebalances, moment to moment, and is designed to mirror the changing experiences of life. It moves with the gentle breezes of the canal.

The extraordinary location of “Sisyphus” in the Marinaressa Gardens enables visitors to view its movement while walking along the canal or traveling by boat from St. Mark’s to the Main Biennale’s Gardini.

Goals

By inviting creative minds from across the world to explore the exhibition’s “theme of reflection and showcased in projects throughout the city, the European Cultural Centre's curators envisioned that the act of reflecting carries the potential to foresee possibilities and the responsibility of imagining a better future.” "Sisyphus" was accepted for display in their show essential for defining this historical moment.

The Marinaressa Gardens welcomes installations and sculpture that tune into the natural environment, turning the public space into an organic installation and an open air sculpture park.

Process

After restoring the sculpture in 2021 from its original design with Wayne P. LaPierre, “Sisyphus” installed in 2022, now measures 9ft high x 11ft long x 4ft wide. Its movement of aluminum, atop painted black stainless steel is contrasted by its display of white gravel on site, an innovative decision by the Gardens Team of the ECC. LaPierre provided the installation plans for the Gardens Team to review. Their installation and site preparation suggests the sculpture appearing to rise and creep along its path.

Additional Information

Photography:Federico Vespignani