NAHON, Brigitte
(b. 1960 - Nice, France) The artist's first commissioned permanent installation in the United States, DANCING REEDS is a sculpture about rhythm, balance and movement. In preparation for creating this site-specific work, Nahon carefully studied the entry to the campus, perceiving it as a transitional space, where the moment between interior and exterior space is suspended. Captivated by this sense of transition, she aimed to amplify it by creating dialogues between nature and city, between architecture and sculpture and between individuals. She was inspired by the undulating wall of the corridor that connects the Trees building with the rest of the campus and allows people to see the trees and grass and the walking path outside. The general shape of the sculpture actually follows the shape of the wavy wall, with sections of convex and concave reeds. States Nahon, "Through my sculpture, I hope to make the viewer sense space in a different way; feel a different harmony with the universe and with his or her own world. By freeing the senses one can push the limits of perception and rediscover one's environment and oneself."

Nahon intended for the reeds to echo and interact with the line patterns of the brick wall, of the window frames, and even of the rays of sunlight that flood the space. The bubbles, made of polycarbonate, reflect the birds, planes and clouds of the exterior landscape. The artist likens the reeds to blades of grass and the bubbles to drops of dew. The sculpture undulates, climbing and moving further away from the wall, giving the feeling that it may eventually fly up and out. Despite this constant sense of motion, there is also a feeling of peace in the space generated by the 'breathing' of the reeds.

Nahon is very interested in the conflict between her materials and the effect they create. Even though each stainless steel reed is firmly affixed to the wall, they are meant to dance freely in the space. She chose a mirror finish, which, combined with the green lights and reflections created by the curves and bends in the steel, make for a dynamic, luminous effect. The lighting on the mirror-finished steel makes it feel almost transparent; more like glass than steel. She defies gravity to create "dancing" elements made from steel . Ultimately, the sculpture captures the energies of its surroundings, including people, plants, architecture and even the sky above. It is completed by the presence of people and movement and thus integrally linked to its location.

Nahon attended the Sorbonne, Paris, and she earned an MFA from the Universite de Provence, Aix-en-Provence. She has exhibited her work throughout Europe and in the US since 1985 and has completed several permanent installations in France, including public commissions for the Ministere de la Culture and the Electricite de France. She has a solo exhibition in 2002 at the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, and an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary and Modern Art, Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2002. The artist currently lives and works in New York City. 2002.085