Tomás Saraceno, On Cosmic Clouds, 2017

Metal, mirror panels, steel thread, polyester rope, fishing line, metal wire, dimensions variable.

The first major site-specific commission was unveiled in 2017, titled On Cosmic Clouds, by renowned Argentinian artist Tomás Saraceno. It is on permanent view in the Library of NYU Abu Dhabi. Saraceno conceived this project specifically for the library, suspending three sculptural constellations under the architectural oculi that span the arching ceiling.

On Cosmic Clouds scatters sun from the oculi above in a myriad of reflections across the space. These constellations are clusters of modular units, partially covered with mirrored panels, interconnected by strings that form a delicate net composition. The sculptural elements hang in positions devised to program ever-shifting, space-activating illuminations that respond to the room’s colors, textures, and the direction of the sunlight. On Cosmic Clouds is ultimately a reinterpretation of a sundial recording Earth’s sidereal-or astronomical-day. The astronomical metaphor is also inspired by the early forms of navigation based on stellar movements, a science originally developed in the Arab world.

To learn more about Tomás Saraceno, click here.