An ice lance, 4.5 meters high, located near the doors of National Center for Contemporary Arts, Kronshtadt residence – is a work of artist Mikhael Crest. He grew it for four days. Using a special mast, he took out the piping from the window of a residence and poured very thin trickle of water to the ground. With more than ten degrees below zero outside, drops of water quickly turned into ice.
“This is an ecological sculpture – explained Mikhael Crest. Not in the environment protection sense, but it is made of environment, hence it is ecologically pure”.
I didn't cut it, didn't polished -this is half natural, not processed with hands outgrowth. A falsification of reality. Some kind of hyper realism: like if it grew out of the ground, ruling out all gravity laws. I searched Internet – no one is doing such things. So, this is one of a kind giant icicle. Next year I want to grow it seven meters high. And then we can even make a festival of such icicles. Ten-twenty degrees below zero are optimal for the creation of such things.
By the way, Mikhael called his sculpture “American Icicle” or “Positive Icicle”.
gazeta.spb.ru - 17 february. 2010
Anomalous icicle was detected at the address Yakornaya square, building 2. Its length – 4,5 meters. And it grows upwards! Curator of National Center for Contemporary Arts, Kronshtadt residence Mikhael A. Crest – artist, working with liquid architecture, i.e. making objects out of water and on water, talks about his conceptual and one of a kind sculpture.
A few years ago, in Kronshtadt, in cooperation with “St. Petersburg Arts Project” (New York), was established Cyland Media Art Laboratory – a residency for artists from all over the world, working in various genres: video-, audio-, photo art, digital, electronic and cybernetic experiments and so on. Residency gives an opportunity to live and work on the project.
- I poured this icicle for four days. Made a mast and put piping out of the window. Very carefully poured water, drop by drop. The most difficult part was to tune the flow, so icicle would not grow too fast and water would not freeze. This is an ecological sculpture – explained Mikhael Crest. Not in the environment protection sense, but it is made of environment, hence it is ecologically pure. I used about 150 liters of water for this experiment, that is all. Also, I think, ecology means harmonious interaction with environment. Our icicle ideally lives in this space, it is not tangible, not seen. It is not using air without purpose.
As opposed to ice sculpture (already spread kind of art here, where artist cuts object out of ice) , kronshtadt icicle has a natural form. Nature played its role in creation of it, not less meaningful than artist did. That is why, Mikhael Crest believes, icicle should have no authorship.
I didn't cut it, didn't polished -this is half natural, not processed with hands outgrowth. A falsification of reality. Some kind of hyper realism: like if it grew out of the ground, ruling out all gravity laws. I searched Internet – no one is doing such things. So, this is one of a kind giant icicle. Next year I want to grow it seven meters high. And then we can even make a festival of such icicles. Ten-twenty degrees below zero are optimal for the creation of such things.
Mikhael called his sculpture “American Icicle” or “Positive Icicle”. Why Positive? Constant fighting with ice crust on the roofs, accidents and various uncomfortable things, born in us negative thoughts about icicles. There is a war, declared against them. But an icicle, growing near the Hanging bridge is not dangerous to anyone. There is no need to fight it, we'd rather photo it!
Serafima Belevich - Kronshtadtskiy vestnik #5, 12 february 2010.
Photo by author
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