ugo rondinone erects seven magic mountains in the nevada desert
all photos by gianfranco gorgoni /courtesy of art production fund and nevada museum of art

 

 

 

in the desert south of las vegas, nevada, swiss artist ugo rondinone has erected a monumental public installation that rises from the rocky terrain. presented by art production fund and nevada museum of art, ‘seven magic mountains‘ comprises a sequence of colorful colossal stone configurations that seemingly defy gravity with their formations. the stacked shapes, reminiscent of naturally-occurring hoodoos, seem simultaneously balanced between stability and collapse. nearly five years in the making, these mammoth cairns evoke the art of meditative rock balancing, as they negotiate the landscape between geological formations and abstract compositions.

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colorful colossal stone configurations seemingly defy gravity with their formations

 

 

 

‘seven magic mountains’ comprises locally-sourced limestone boulders arranged in vertical groups of three to six slabs. the totems tower between thirty and thirty-five feet high above visitors, with individual stones each painted a different fluorescent color. ‘seven magic mountains elicits continuities and solidarities between human and nature, artificial and natural, then and now,’ rondinone describes.

 

positioned within the ivanpah valley and surrounded by mountains, the installation will be on view for two years beginning may 11, 2016.

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the stacked shapes are reminiscent of naturally-occurring hoodoos

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the installation is located in the desert south of las vegas, nevada

 

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