"The spears came out as a water-metaphor in space -- at the same time, a huge instrument with the different waves -- flows, mini-streams, as water running on. All this intense period of designing: Turcsány-Finta happened in April 2010."
Little did I know taking photographs of a new Hungarian contemporary water sculpture, "Water-Spears 2011," at the public University of Budapest would require a permit.
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| "Water-Spears 2011" by Villo Turcsany & Sandor Finta Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
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| "Water-Spears 2011" Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
And as I was to learn 40 minutes later, these spears are connected by a series of below-surface plastic tubes and cables to a computerized nerve center deep in the bowls of this new building, part of a vast reconstruction of university assets by the former socialist regime between 2005 - 2010.
This story starts last month in Budapest when Hungary´s recognized expert on contemporary art, Peter Fitz and sculptor Villo Turcsany invited me to see "Water-Spears 2011" designed by Turcsany and architect Finta, currently working in India and due back in Budapest late August.
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| Villo Turcsany.Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
As you´ll see by the credits contemporary sculptor Turcsany provides below, the team created and recently installed "Water-Spears 2011" on a budget of about 55,000 Euros, although 10 percent remains withheld until final art jury assessment and government approval expected in September.
All part of a 54-sculpture/art works program of the previous government called "Private, Public Partnership" or PPP, started in 2005, according to Fitz, co-curator for Art on Lake and director of Museum Kiscell, Budapest´s Municipal Picture Gallery.
This is part of a much larger, five-year reconstruction plan for the university.
This is part of a much larger, five-year reconstruction plan for the university.
Under PPP, one percent of total construction costs are dedicated for art works.
"Water-Spears 2011"--designed by Turcsany and Finta--sparkles as applied art but a cloistered contemporary wonder of Hungary.
Soothing sounds of small but constant swirls of water hugging the spears and shivering to the basin below recoiled softly off the well-guarded walls of this airplane hanger-sized, otherwise sterile but well-lit interior courtyard.
Soothing sounds of small but constant swirls of water hugging the spears and shivering to the basin below recoiled softly off the well-guarded walls of this airplane hanger-sized, otherwise sterile but well-lit interior courtyard.
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| Peter Fitz Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
Each stainless steel tube is designed differently and destined to provide separate and silvery sounds of water sliding at various speeds down the shiny surfaces of varying tubal widths, onto five spacious but subtle depressions in the base, creating valleys for five clusters of water-spears.
All water is recycled.
Then, larger splats and splashes of dispersing waters, as though catapulted over the top of tube endings, new sounds and visual kinetics added to the computerized mix that makes "Water-Spears 2011" perhaps one of Europe's most well kept contemporary art secrets.
We achieved some kind of victory to see and hear the sculpture speaking to us and later to view the highly engineered solar plexus of this applied art installation.
All water is recycled.
Specially programmed, pitters and patters of water, different rates of fall, different sounds of water striking, reflections of ambient light off shivering stainless steel tubes.
Is "Water-Spears 2011"a best-kept secret?
Is "Water-Spears 2011"a best-kept secret?
Then, larger splats and splashes of dispersing waters, as though catapulted over the top of tube endings, new sounds and visual kinetics added to the computerized mix that makes "Water-Spears 2011" perhaps one of Europe's most well kept contemporary art secrets.
The sculpture seemed to come alive, but only for a couple of minutes, since all this was done for my benefit, more technical rehearsal than art appreciation.
A technician waited at the controls for the order the to turn the system off in the building´s undercarriage. It was summer break.
A technician waited at the controls for the order the to turn the system off in the building´s undercarriage. It was summer break.
We achieved some kind of victory to see and hear the sculpture speaking to us and later to view the highly engineered solar plexus of this applied art installation.
Seems the public side, no where to be located, was the only one who could officially allow me to take pictures at a public university.
Even the sympathetic manager officiating over the "private" side of the PPP said he was powerless to let me take pictures.
I took pictures and no one really cared except the guys in uniform, and I had already shot what I needed in their presence before they told me to stop and secure a written permit.
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"Water-Spears 2011" Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
WATER-SPEARS 2011
Designed by Villő Turcsány (sculptor) - Sándor Finta (architect, sporaarchitects)
Site: BME Q Info Park, Budapest
Produced by: H2Q Kft / HÉROSZ Zrt
Contract management: lollart Kft
Associate architect: Orsolya Vadász sporaarchitects
Actuation / water engineering: Péter Popovics
Total budget: The application was announced for this water-circulating art piece: 15.000.000 HUF (Forints) or approx. 55.000 EUR.
Now, 90% of the all budget is transferred - that means all the subcontractors, materials and water-engine devices are paid.
Ten percent (10%) of the whole budget is still held back since the contemporary art jury has to visit the finished art piece and approve it on record, completing conveyancing of the work.
That´s how we can issue the final bill (10%), which contains the fees of the designers (Turcsány-Finta), management (lollart-sporaarchitects), and statics-works.
Actuation is now legally controlled by the H2Q Kft - HÉROSZ ZRT (The actual owner of the building, which was built under PPP. )
Above details provided by Villo Turcsany, August 2011
Sculptor Villo Turcsany examines complex network that controls water to the "Water-Spears 2011" Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
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Computer brain for "Water-Spears 2011" Photograh by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
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"The Design Had to Start Somewhere" Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
Precisely engineered & tuned like a fine piano
Turcsany said the engineered water sysem is very flexible and could produce different visual and audio results.
She said after the formal conveyance of the work in September, she and Finta and their team will experiment and make sound studies.
She said after the formal conveyance of the work in September, she and Finta and their team will experiment and make sound studies.
"By using a system of the five circles of water-spears, tubes can be controlled individually, if needed," she said.
"Our engineer-collaborator set up a ´play thing´or let's say huge instrument to be able to tune and adjust matching the real situation in space and in time."
"Yes, the flows/drops/water-courses are creating rhythm; the sound of the water should build up almost as a musical experience," she added.
She then described design highlights:
"Dividing the floor-plan of the work into five sections makes tuning easier.
"First, all the tubes were set to a certain water pressure. The spears can be adjusted by millibars. The maximum pressure is around 4,000 millibars per spear.
"We set up some ways of the water-actuation. We wanted to make the system operate precisely by September when my collegue is coming back from India."
Turcsany said she looks forward to final approval by two government ministries and the art jury, authorizing final payments for the work.
She said the final PPP sculpture, to be installed on the grounds immediately in front of the entrance doors leading to "Water-Spears 2011," will be completed by the September review, bringing PPP funding for these 54 public art works to conclusion.
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| "Water-Spears 2011" Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) |
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| "Water-Spears 2011," a well-kept secret? Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011) Note: According to the Budapest Business Journal online 5 July edition, the Hungarian government has reviewed existing public private partnerships (PPPs) contracts, and after future discussions will decide on a timetable and agreements with which PPPs will be cancelled, said National Development Minister Tamás Fellegi. The government announced earlier this year that it would cancel existing PPPs and replace them with new ones. Existing PPPs impose a burden of more than HUF 3,000 billion on the budget, Fellegi said. |
Rock on and practice peace and love.
Stefan, the ArtTraveler ™
ArtTraveler notes:
After living at the Hotel Queen Mary in Budapest (3.5 stars), I heartily recommend it: old on the outside, otherwise totally modern (23 rooms);
The owner and staff are affable and speak English and German. Tel: 0036-1-413-3510; www.hotelqueenmary.hu; info@hotelqueenmary.hu.
Visit Andalusia for a walking holiday or week-long sculpture or mosaics workshop.
See: www.spanjeanders.nl and www.competafinearts.com.
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| "Spanish life stilled," photograph by Stefan van Drake (2009) |
You may reach me at stefanvandrake@gmail.com or by calling (34) 915 067 703 or from the UK at BT landline rates, 0844 774 8349.
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