Overview
Nature does not proceed in a straight line, it is rather a sprawling development. – Robert Smithson
As if it is pulling itself from the muck of primordial ooze Chimera Sententia (Chimera) rises from the playa floor. A creature of indeterminate origin out of sync with time and place greets participants. Its sculptural presence is informed by transitional forms in biology; hybrid creatures expressing a point where evolutionary paths cross: such as the Tiktaalik or the Archeopterix. Expressing an amalgam which tells a broader story, a chimera; a synthesis of biology. Its body represents a timeline of evolution, from the beginning spark of life eons ago, to a vision of future evolutionary possibilities seen within its illuminated head. With a length of thirty feet and reaching a height of fifteen feet Chimera is a space of quiet contemplation. Chimera allows participants to move in and around, discovering spaces within.
Chimera’s form strains to lift and pull itself forward by its front limbs, its head is bowed low powerfully pushing forward with its expanding mind as its sides labor with breath. Its reptilian body slopes away from its illuminated head, morphing into crustacean as it curls back into a segmented tail.
From a distance Chimera’s presence is enlivened with pulsing breath-like fire running down the crest of its spine and light seeping out from within its body. As participants come closer and investigate the space within Chimera they discover, a projection space enclosed in the head. Within the illuminated head a platform is hidden, creating a space where future dreams and ideas can manifest. As participants explore their presence inside the head will distort and influence the visions which are projected upon the translucent surface. Walking inside the inner curve of the abdomen one notices the breathing walls and the light seeping out from an internal cavity within the body. Further investigation reveals a hidden garden. A green space symbolizing Chimera as not just a symbolic gesture but a living and evolving idea of future possibilities where all aspects of life are fully harmonious.
