Cape Town artist creates larger than life sculpture in Florida

Daniel Popper, a world-renowned multidisciplinary artist, is famous for his monumental sculptures and public art installations.

The Capetonian artist was commissioned to erect a permanent installation outside a residential building in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the United States.

Titled ‘Thrive’, the 8-metre tall work, which is made from Glass Fibre reinforced concrete (GFRC), weighs a whopping 14 tons.

The installation depicts an ethereal woman prising open her chest to reveal lush greenery.

The cavernous chest doubles as a fern-covered tunnel that invites visitors to walk through and be embraced by the sculpture.

 

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Thrive is a symbol of hope and transformation, according to the artist.

“The woman is not modelled on anyone in particular,” he said to Bored Panda.

He added that “[t]he weight and rigging underneath the overhang were extremely challenging.”

Thrive is based on a sculpture that Popper created in Tulum but with an urban twist.

“We started this about a year ago,” said the artist at the unveiling of the piece in November.

“It starts from sketching a pencil a drawing, then to computer rendering, design, fabrication, engineering,” said Popper, rattling off the numerous steps that culminated in the sculpture.

The components were then shipped to Florida. Popper said the installation of Thrive was an “engineering feat”.

Popper is best known for his work at music festivals and many of his projects are made in collaboration with other artists, technicians and artisans, to create interactive art that includes key components such as electronic music, LED lighting and projection mapping.

Picture: Facebook/Daniel Popper – artist