A Visible Mass

A Visible Mass is a series of 22 colourful sculptures with mirrored finishes inspired by clouds over Edmonton. The imagery originated from photographs contributed by Edmonton residents, which were then abstracted into the final sculptural forms to be installed in Warehouse Park. The colour palette of draws from the hues of the sky from dawn to dusk — ranging from warm and energizing to cool and soothing tones. Each sculptural form is designed to mimic the varied formations of clouds. The stylization of these clouds is drawn from Persian miniature paintings, especially those that lavishly illustrate epic poems about love and humanity.

The artist, Sanaz Mazinani, has been using clouds as symbols of freedom in her work as early as 2010. In this work, the impermanence of clouds and their connection to our habits of daydreaming are explored, while also inviting reflection on how colonialism has affected our relationship to land and sky. In A Visible Mass, the nebulous nature of clouds — their structural composition of tiny individual particles and how they form into a unique and grand whole — echoes our societal structures. What happens when many people join together to start a movement? How can our communal gathering in public space activate the world around us? Like a weather system, the actions of many in unison ripple outward and create change.

While clouds in the sky move freely from place to place, the movements of people are often restricted. By encouraging visitors of Warehouse Park to gather and think about movement, Mazinani aims for A Visible Mass to offer opportunities for connection, growth, and change.