Video summary
The artist describes her creative process as an intuitive response to the imposing, orderly architecture of the university campus, where she felt compelled to introduce a provocative yet elegant element through the motif of the dandelion. She observed that the building's rigid lines and protruding structures naturally suggested rows of seeds ready to disperse, creating a sense that the idea chose her rather than the other way around. This conceptual alignment led her to envision a sculpture with significant volume capable of interacting with the massive surroundings while remaining light and transparent enough not to obscure the beauty of the existing architecture but instead to support it visually.
Despite the common perception of dandelions as annoying weeds that should be sprayed from lawns, particularly by an older generation who view them negatively, the artist finds them magical for their ability to grow through tiny cracks in asphalt where nothing else can survive. She recalls childhood memories of blowing on these flowers and her parents' reassurance, contrasting this with her current ambition to create a bronze dandelion nearly five meters tall that will ironically "rub salt in the wound" by thriving in an urban environment. This choice highlights how she transforms something dismissed as a nuisance into a symbol of resilience and natural beauty within a structured setting.
The decision to use bronze was driven by its rich art historical tradition and durability, qualities that align with her belief in putting effort into one's work since few materials can endure forever like it does. She envisions the finished piece inviting close inspection rather than just being viewed from afar, where viewers would discover intricate details such as tiny creatures crawling around the surface once they get near enough to see them clearly. This desire for intimacy extends to her philosophy on art interaction; she rejects the notion that people should not touch artworks and believes that when children or others handle a piece, it becomes shiny with their stories, adding its own unique history to the object.
Ultimately, the project represents an exciting culmination of collaborative effort, feeling like solving a complex puzzle where every participant shares in the anticipation of assembling the final pieces together. The artist expresses growing excitement about this process and looks forward to seeing how people will engage with the sculpture once it is complete, hoping that its presence will spark curiosity and connection just as she hopes her own works do when touched by others. Through this ambitious bronze dandelion, she aims to bridge the gap between natural growth and urban order while celebrating the effort required to create something that can stand the test of time.
Read the full video transcript
When I saw the place here, everything was
so tight and orderly and [music] was
right and beautiful. So I think I
needed to be a little
provocative in an elegant way.
Actually, I was very quickly on
dandelion, [music]
because I think there were so many round
shapes and things sticking out like that.
And the building itself, where there
are just these lines all the way around. So
where I looked, I almost saw the seeds in a
row, just about to fly out [music].
So it was almost as if the idea
chose me and not me choosing the
idea. So it was like that, it was
very natural that that was the direction
it [music] should go in.
I could sense quite quickly
that the work had to have a lot of
volume, since these are some huge
buildings. But it also had to
be light and transparent, so you could see the
building behind it, so it wouldn't just be some
big block that you
placed in front because the building is so
beautiful, but they had to kind of go in and
support each other.
Well, the dandelion, it's such an
uh, it's something very special, because
it's such an uh, it's a bit of a
fyyy thing. It's a bit misunderstood,
I think, because it's like this, when
you talk to a very special
generation, it's like, oh,
dandelions are so annoying, and the whole lawn is
set to [music] with them, and they need to go away,
and how do we spray them away? I
always thought it was
magical when you walked into a place where
you saw almost nothing but asphalt. There's nothing
[music] that can grow there.
And yet there's just this
little place in Satan that has just grown
up through the smallest crack.
And that thing about standing and blowing them,
like all kids, they love standing and
blowing those seeds out, right? And I
just remember my parents just
standing there like, "Don't worry, Maria." So, there are
dandelions all over our
lawn, right? And now I'm just making one that's
almost five meters tall. So,
that's [laughter] just rubbing salt in the
wound.
Bronze is one of the finest.
So that's what it has so much
art historical tradition. [music]
You're quite committed to that
material since there's so little
that can stay there forever.
And I like that commitment.
And that's something you have to make an effort with.
So I think one of the most important things in the
world is to put effort into what
you do.
together.
And that's just what you need with the bronze.
If you can get,
I could really imagine [music]
that people would go and
get close to it and look at it in its
level of detail, because when you see
it from a distance, you can pretty
quickly decode that it's a dandelion,
but when you get close, you'll
actually experience that a
lot is happening. [music] Uh, there'll be little
creatures crawling around and and all
sorts of little things happening.
So I've always been like that with
my works, I really like it
when people touch the works. [music]
That thing about not being allowed to touch the
art, I think that's so
terrible. Well, I'm a
craftsman, so I have to touch
everything. Um, but this thing about
someone going over and touching it, and
if there are children going over and touching
it, then [music] it will become
shiny on the surface and something like that,
and it will kind of have its own story.
Now I've seen the parts, haven't I?
I think I'm just getting more and more
excited about it, and I'm looking forward
to putting it together like a child. And
I know that those who worked with me and for
me do the same. It will be the
craziest thing to collect it. It will be
like putting the last pieces
together in a puzzle.
[music]
Where to?
[music]