Unveiling ‘(This is) Air’: A Visionary Architectural Marvel by Nic Brundson

Award-winning architecture studio Nic Brunsdon and the diligent design collective ENESS join forces to reveal their visionary creation, (This is) Air, at the esteemed NGV Triennial. Unveiled as a momentous Architecture Commission, this monumental inflatable sphere soars majestically over 14 meters, emanating an aura of uplifting optimism while delving profoundly into the essence of air and its intricate relationship with the ever-passing tides of time.

The much anticipated NGV Triennial 2023 edition, set to grace NGV International in Melbourne from December 3, 2023, to June 2024, warmly embraces this poignant architectural masterpiece, poised to captivate audiences with its evocative and contemplative exploration.

“(This is) Air” sheds illuminating light on the significance of air, an elemental, yet often overlooked, resource that sustains the very fabric of life on our revered planet. Ingeniously harnessing air as a palpable building material, it pulsates rhythmically, expanding and exhaling throughout the day, mimicking the very essence of breathing.

The installation’s entrancing exhalations conjure ethereal cloud-like formations, only to be gently revitalized in a wondrous dance of renewal. By rendering air perceivable, audible, and tangible, Brunsdon and ENESS evoke profound reflection on humanity’s profound interconnectedness with this finite and increasingly endangered life-sustaining asset.

The seed of inspiration for this groundbreaking project germinated in Brunsdon’s mind during the global pandemic when air quality emerged as an urgent concern. The inflatable sphere’s rhythmic respiration echoes the collective consciousness of a world awakening to the paramount importance of unpolluted air.

Ewan McEoin, NGV Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, Design, and Architecture, accentuates the universality of air while acknowledging the disparities in its purity based on geographical context and human impact.

The NGV Triennial’s Architecture Commission has perpetually provided a platform for thought-provoking installations, each unfurling an illuminating perspective on our contemporary world. Embracing the thematic pillar of Matter, “(This is) Air” flawlessly interweaves nature, materiality, and craftsmanship, serving as a profound reminder of the intricate interplay of biology, geology, and physics within our very existence.

Brunsdon’s architectural marvel incarnates a timeless discourse on our symbiotic rapport with the natural order and the urgent imperative to cherish and safeguard our shared environment.

Amidst the exhibition, “(This is) Air” beckons visitors to plunge into profound engagement with its symbolism and implications while playing host to an array of public programs and performances within the enchanting confines of the NGV Garden. A testament to artistic ingenuity and environmental mindfulness, this visionary inflatable sphere jubilantly extols the ethereal quintessence of air, simultaneously provoking us to introspect upon our roles as custodians of the delicate planet we call home.

Paulo Montenegro
Categories: Design
Tags: (This is) Air, art, design