Reflecting the idea that we are both shaped by the world and shape it in return, ORB reinvents a familiar urban element to capture a defining principle that has governed life since antiquity.
ORB is a monument to the mathematical principles that shaped the great pyramids of Egypt. Its form alludes the number pi, highlighting the fundamental role mathematics plays in the laws of nature.
Each circular mirror offers a shifting perspective, symbolising both creation and rebirth –central themes in ancient Egyptian beliefs, often represented by the sun.
But aside from its symbolism there's also something familiar in the materials SpY uses. ORB is made up of convex traffic mirrors, the kind that help you peer around a corner or check a blind spot. These mirrors reflect a broader perspective than a regular mirror, bringing the whole surrounding landscape into each sphere. It's the unlikely connection between ancient knowledge and an urban material that's revealed to us in this sculpture. And that's something we only get to see through SpY's unique understanding of the urban environment and its artistic potential.
Having seemingly rolled all the way from Egypt to Amsterdam, ORB extends beyond the boundaries of time and space. It is a tribute to the natural principles that have shaped our collective past and continue to shape the present and future.