Taking imagination seriously - Janet Echelman

Summary

Artist Janet Echelman, with no formal training in sculpture, engineering, or architecture, revolutionized the art world by using fishnet to create large, fluid sculptures that move with the wind. From her first self-portrait sculpture in collaboration with fishermen to permanent public installations, she blends traditional craft with modern engineering and technology. Her work transforms urban spaces, inviting interaction and inspiring a sense of wonder, as seen in her projects in Portugal, Philadelphia, and Denver, and her aspirations to bring her art to cities globally.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The artist's journey began with an unexpected encounter with fishnet material, leading to a unique approach to creating volumetric sculptures without heavy materials.
• 🏛️ The artist had no formal training in sculpture, engineering, or architecture but pursued a path of self-taught artistry and innovation.
• 🤝 Collaboration with local fishermen in Mahabalipuram, India, was pivotal in developing the initial concept of using fishnets for sculptures.
• 🌬 The artist's work is characterized by soft, wind-responsive forms that transform with the slightest breeze, creating dynamic patterns.
• 🌐 A pivotal moment in the artist's career was the introduction of their work to urbanist Manuel Solom Morales, leading to a commission for a permanent public art installation in Porto, Portugal.
• 🔍 The search for a durable material suitable for outdoor sculptures led to a two-year quest, resulting in the discovery of a fiber that could withstand environmental challenges while maintaining softness and fluid movement.
• 🛠️ The artist collaborated with an aeronautical engineer, Peter Hele, to design a structure that could move gracefully in the wind and withstand hurricane forces.
• 🔄 The process of adapting traditional handcraft techniques to industrial machinery required the creation of a new language to communicate the artist's vision to machine operators.
• 🏙️ The artist's vision expanded to include creating large-scale sculptures in urban environments, transforming public spaces and giving them a sense of place.
• 🌁 The use of innovative materials like atomized water particles for sculptures allowed for interactive, wind-shaped art that people could move through without getting wet.
• 🌍 The artist aims to create sculptures that represent global interconnectedness, as exemplified by a project commissioned by the Banial of the Americas in Denver, representing the 35 nations of the Western Hemisphere.

Q & A

What material did the artist initially use for her sculptures?

The artist initially used fishnet, an ordinary material used for centuries, to create her sculptures.

Why did the artist switch from painting to sculpture?

The artist switched from painting to sculpture when her paints didn't arrive in time for an exhibition in India, and she was inspired by the local fishermen bundling their nets on the beach.

What was the artist's first sculpture made with the fishermen?

The artist's first sculpture made with the fishermen was a self-portrait titled 'Wide Hips'.

How did the artist's work evolve to involve larger scale installations?

The artist's work evolved to involve larger scale installations when she collaborated with lace makers in Lithuania and then returned to India to work with fishermen, eventually creating a net of a million and a half hand-tied knots.

What challenge did the artist face when asked to create a permanent piece for Porto, Portugal?

The artist faced the challenge of finding a fiber that could survive ultraviolet rays, salt, and air pollution while remaining soft enough to move fluidly in the wind, as well as the challenge of engineering a structure that could withstand hurricane winds.

Who is Peter Heil, and how did he contribute to the artist's work?

Peter Heil is an aeronautical engineer who designed sails for America's Cup racing yachts. He helped the artist tackle the challenges of precise shape and gentle movement for her sculptures.

How did the artist adapt her work to use machine-made lace instead of hand-tied knots?

The artist developed a relationship with an industrial fishnet factory, learned the variables of their machines, and figured out a way to make lace with them, creating a new language to translate the ancient handcraft into something machine operators could produce.

What is the significance of the sculpture '1.26' and how was it created?

The sculpture '1.26' represents the 35 nations of the Western Hemisphere and their interconnectedness. It was created by translating data on a tsunami that affected Chile and rippled across the Pacific Ocean, shortening the Earth's day by 1.26 microseconds.

What new material did the artist use to trace the paths of subway trains above ground in real time?

The artist used tiny atomized water particles to create a dry mist that is shaped by the wind and can be interacted with by people without getting wet.

What is the artist's vision for the future of her sculptures?

The artist's vision for the future is to create these sculptures at the scale of skyscrapers in cities around the world, where they are most needed, combining traditional craft forms with high-tech materials and engineering.

What impact did the artist's sculpture have on people in Phoenix?

The artist's sculpture in Phoenix had a profound impact, as it drew people out of their offices, including an attorney who had never been interested in art, to lie down underneath the sculpture and share the rediscovery of wonder.