Draft:Umi (sculpture)

Umi is a 21-foot-tall interactive sculpture created by artist Daniel Popper.[1][2] The sculpture is permanently installed within Hogan Park at Highlands Creek, a public art park located in The Aurora Highlands, a master-planned community near Denver, Colorado.[3]

The sculpture's name translates to “ocean” in Japanese, depicts the convergence of a woman and plant roots, symbolizing the interconnectedness of humanity and nature.[4] The artwork is inspired by the concept of Gaia, the personification of earth and mother of all life in Greek mythology.[4][5]

Designed to be interactive, Umi includes a designated space within the sculpture that allows the public to explore and engage with the art.[3] The sculpture is part of Popper’s broader body of work, which often focuses on large-scale, immersive art that connects people with the natural world.[6][7]

  1. ^ "Meet Umi: Massive, interactive sculpture installed in Aurora". The Aurora Highlands. 2023-08-18. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  2. ^ "The Aurora Highlands' Public Art Park Wins CBCA Award". Mile High CRE. 2023-12-14. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  3. ^ a b "Meet Umi, the 'powerful' sculpture by a world-famous artist that now sits in a suburban Colorado field". Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH). 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  4. ^ a b McKee, Spencer (2023-08-24). "Massive 21-foot-tall sculpture of 'ancestral goddess' unveiled in Colorado". OutThere Colorado. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  5. ^ Rhodes, Maddie (Aug 21, 2023). "Learn more about the 2-story sculpture new to Aurora Highlands". Fox 31 Colorado.
  6. ^ "Daniel Popper Paintings & Works". Academia Aesthetics. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  7. ^ Ebert, Grace (2021-05-27). "Five Towering Figures by Artist Daniel Popper Loom Over The Morton Arboretum". Colossal. Retrieved 2024-09-04.