Ernesto Neto’s Houston Installation Winds Visitors Through Nature

Building on his grandmother’s craft, Ernesto Neto’s Houston museum installation winds visitors through his version of the cycles of nature. “What inspires my work is both the spiritual and the material,” he says.

When visitors enter the epic sculptural work, they can explore a complex labyrinth of interactive pathways, all while suspended in mid-air. The massive, spiraling SunForceOceanLife comprises yellow, orange, and green materials that are hand-woven into engaging patterns.

SunForceOceanLife by Ernesto Neto features 100,000 yards of polymer string, 117,000 plastic balls, and is 12 feet high t its highest point.

The September issue of Interior Design features a photo collage of the work in progress - see link here for details.

He worked in his studio on larger segments that would ultimately be sewn together. Photography courtesy of Ernesto Neto and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

A labor-intensive process using fingers instead of needles that was developed by Neto allows for larger apertures than standard crocheting. Photography courtesy of Ernesto Neto and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.