hu:pu
2017 | Steel banding and metal | 1200x800x420 cm
The Hoopoe (hu:pu in phonetics) is the national bird of Israel, it has a distinctive long sharp beak and a feathered crown. This sculpture captures the moment it is about to land, its beak almost touching a giant metal flower-shaped fire pit.
Built as a cumulative effort with a dozen volunteers who helped realize this idea into metal form. It was displayed during the 2017 Midburn festival in the Negev desert. Later it was permanently installed at a traffic circle in the community of Midreshet Ben Gurion.
CREATION PROCESS
The primary goal was to create a shaded space under the wingspan of the bird, alongside a gathering space around the fire at night. The structure consists of two beam arches with the body of the bird hanging below. The feathers, crown, and tail are made from package banding steel. This thin yet strong material creates a pass-through effect and allowed each one of the volunteers to add their personal touch to the overall aesthetic.
