Nest 550

Tarik Kiswanson

Summary

Arnold AG produced the 5.50 metre long sculpture "Nest 550" by Tarik Kiswanson for the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennale. The organic, cocoon-like shape required high-precision metalworking. The construction was carried out using a hybrid process combining hand moulding and 3D printing with aluminium. The sculpture consists of individually manufactured, welded and polished metal elements to achieve a seamless and homogeneous surface. It has been finished in a matt RAL colour for a smooth, durable exterior.

Services

Production and assembly

Project manager

Ahmad Anabtawi

Client

Tarik Kiswanson

Year

2024

An eye-catcher for the Abu Dhabi Biennale

"Nest 550" was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and is part of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial curated by Reem Fadda. The sculpture is installed at a height of over five meters on a building façade - a striking intervention in the urban space that can also be read as a poetic symbol of fragility, protection and transformation.

This work is the largest version of the sculptural Nest series to date - with a length of 550 cm and a diameter of around 220 cm. The work formally refers to an organic, almost biomorphic structure - a nest as a protective space, intermediate zone and symbol of becoming, change and rootedness. At the same time, the abstract form can also be read as a reference to futuristic architecture and hybrid bodies - a tension that runs through Kiswanson's work.

A look into the production hall of Arnold AG in Friedrichsdorf

550 centimeters floating state

The complex creation of the sculpture also reflects this duality in its materiality and construction: originally planned entirely as a 3D-printed object, "Nest 550" was realized as a hybrid solution due to time restrictions. The outer tips of the sculpture were created using a 3D printing process, while the middle segments were painstakingly formed by hand from 3 mm thick aluminum sheet - an impressive testament to precision craftsmanship and technical adaptability.

View from below after the installation of the “Nest 550” in Abu Dhabi

"Nest 550" during final acceptance at the Friedrichsdorf site

The perfect balance of technology and aesthetics

The necessary structural stability is provided by a concealed substructure made of galvanized steel and aluminium frames. The sculpture is attached to a bracket that is directly connected to the building via a welded steel flange. Its surface has been finished with an elegant RAL 9003 top coat and a matt clear lacquer coating, giving the sculpture an almost floating, light-absorbing presence.

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