Earthtime 1.8 Beijing, China, 2017

DESCRIPTION

Janet Echelman’s Earthtime 1.8 net sculpture surged through the air in a busy section of Beijing during the 2017 Solana Light Festival. Its title, Earthtime 1.8 (One Point Eight) refers to the length of time in microseconds that the earth’s day was shortened as a result of a single physical event (in this case, data sets derived from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that emanated from Japan). It is constructed from fibers 15 times stronger than steel by weight, and custom color blends that Echelman combines with light to create the dynamic final sculpture.

The monumental floating form is composed of layers of fiber, braided and knotted together in vibrant hues that pulse with changing wind and weather to create a choreography of undulating color. At night, the sculpture comes to life with projected colored light. Lightweight and flexible, the sculpture has travelled to London, Mexico City, and now Beijing, where it was installed for its third exhibition.

The artwork invites you to pause amid the bustle and commotion, offering a chance to gaze skyward and contemplate a physical manifestation of the interconnectedness surrounding us.

To date, the Earthtime 1.8 sculpture has been installed in: London, UK (2016), San Diego, CA (2016), Mexico City, Mexico (2017), Beijing, China (2017), Xian, China (2018), Green Mountain Falls, CO (2019), and Perth, Australia (2021).

MATERIALS AND SIZE

Fiber, Buildings and Sky combined with Colored Lighting. Fibers are braided with nylon and UHMWPE (Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene)
Dimensions of net: 100 ft. length x 45 ft. width x 20 ft. depth

CREDITS

Art: Janet Echelman
Studio Echelman Team: Melissa Henry, Jamie Li, Lillian Rodriguez, Daniel Zeese, Cameron Chateauneuf
Sculpture Engineering: Arup: Clayton Binkley
Installation Engineering: Solana Light Festival
Simulation Software Engineering: Autodesk
Festival Production and Lighting: Solana Light Festival
Photography and Videography: Solana Light Festival

LOCATION

Solana, near Sun Park, Beijing, China