Chimera
Monira Al Quadiri
Commissioned by Dubai EXPO 2020
The futuristic drill head from outer space
In 2020, we built Qadiri's first metal sculpture: the five meter tall artwork "Chimera". Incidentally, it is also her first permanent public work. The oversized, 3300-kilogram drill head, coated in a special, pearlescent paint, holds great significance for the artist. Quadiri’s work often portrays the history of her country and combines the themes of oil discovery and pearl diving, which previously played a major role in the Gulf Coast economy. The sculpture features a multitude of complex 3D deformed surfaces and required years of experience in order to be produced at this level of detail. The intricate details and the high degree of welding work posed a particular challenge in order to achieve the lowest possible distortion in the material. These distortions would otherwise have been noticeable in the high-gloss paintwork. The sculpture consisted of 11 components, which had to be constructed in such a way that no joints or obvious screw connections were visible, while at the same time ensuring easy assembly. This clever construction was necessary to preserve the aesthetic integrity of the sculpture.
Commissioned by Dubai EXPO 2020
Flip-flop paint distributed over 3300 kilograms of aluminum
The planning and production of "Chimera" took just under a year. We shaped eight-millimeter-thick aluminum sheet metal mostly by hand, but also by machine (3D forming). In order to work out the many details of the drill head, individual sheets were formed, welded and ground by Arnold production specialists. Due to the rigidity of the material, no additional reinforcing substructure was required. Together with the iridescent play of colors of the pearlescent special paint, the result is a perfect, distortion-free surface. Special paint samples were required to match the artist's exact color tone. The chosen shade had to ensure uniform matching under different lighting conditions, which required precise color selection and application. Special packaging was produced to transport the large components safely by sea to Dubai. This packaging also served as an assembly aid to prevent damage to the delicate painted surface during assembly. In total, the sculpture covered a painted surface of approx. 119 m². "Chimera" was unveiled at the "Expo 2020" trade fair in Dubai.
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