wasim zaid uses blue cotton candy to shape 'inimical nostalgia' sculpture

for his most recent project entitled ‘inimical nostalgia’, wasim zaid has employed a novel material to form a new art-piece. using blue cotton candy, the jordanian architect and artist has shaped the sugary substance into a ‘hellenistic-era sculpture’. the concept behind the work seeks to convey how our sweet, yet rose-tinted view of the past hinders the progress of society in present day.

all images courtesy of wasim zaid

by using cotton candy, zaid gives the work a sense of impermanence. referencing sculptures from ancient civilizations, the features of the face can be effortlessly pulled apart in an effort to convey how our reverence for the past is based on a mere notion (that can also be pulled apart) and can end up becoming a hindrance to development. in essence, by using the sugary substance in this form, the project aims to reveal the necessity of having a complex cultural relationship with the past, in order to benefit from it in a constructive way. 

born in lebanon and raised in the united arab emirates, wasim zaid gained a bachelors of architecture before going on to work in architectural practice. during this time, the architect also cultivated a deep interest in art. in his work, zaid takes inspiration from his perception of daily surroundings with the intention of transforming conceptual ideas into tangible forms.

project info:

project name: ‘inimical nostalgia’ (cotton candy sculpture)

artist: wasim zaid

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom