Earthtime 1.26 Riyadh

Earthtime 1.26 Riyadh serves as both a visual spectacle and a catalyst for conversation. As part of the series called Earthtime, this piece aims to raise consciousness of human interconnectivity with one another and with the planet. Echelman works with teams of architects, designers, model-makers, aeronautical and structural engineers, computer scientists, lighting designers, landscape architects, and a fabrication team. The structure, made up of layers of braided and knotted technical fibers that move with the wind, changes its surface shape constantly with forces of nature beyond its control. Earthtime 1.26 was digitally modeled from scientific data describing the 2010 earthquake in Chile, which caused global ripple effects, and sped up the earth’s daily rotation. The number in the title refers to a measurement of time, as the earth’s day was shortened by 1.26 microseconds. The piece addresses the fluidity of life and the constant evolution of the environment, forming an unpredictable dance that reminds us of the vastness and power of nature.

Earthtime 1.26, 2023 ©Janet Echelman
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art