Ever wonder what it means to capture movement in a still form? Right here we have As Bailarinas Sculpture. It is more than just steel and artistry. As Bailarinas Sculpture embodies the spirit of Porto.
This sculpture locally known as anémona is actually named She Changes. Janet Echelman designed it for Porto and Matosinhos. The artwork represents the city’s industrial and seafaring history.
Look at the three steel poles supporting the structure. They stand tall resembling smokestacks and lighthouses. Notice how the net structure evokes the city’s fishing industry. The city has made As Bailarinas Sculpture its graphic symbol.
The poles range from 25 to 50 meters high. They hold a 20-ton steel ring at an angle. A net comprised of 36 sections hangs from this ring. Each section has a different density giving the net its unique shape.
This net is made from TENARA architectural fiber. This material is UV-resistant. It’s designed to withstand the coastal elements. The entire structure weighs about 1.5 tonnes.
Residents see many things in As Bailarinas Sculpture. Some see fishing nets. Others see ships and masts. Some are reminded of Portuguese lace. Others find sea creatures or ripples in the water.
The red and white striped smokestacks reflect the area’s industrial past. The sculpture moves fluidly in the wind. It casts cinematic shadows on the ground. This wind choreography is quite mesmerizing.
She Changes wasn’t always perfect. In October 2020, it was disassembled for repair. It was reassembled in April 2021 with new netting. The sculpture floats over the Cidade Salvador Plaza.
Janet Echelman’s team included Philip Speranza for design support. AFA Consult handled the engineering in Porto. Peter Heppel Associates in Paris managed the aeronautical engineering. Eduardo Souto Moura was the architect.
As Bailarinas Sculpture also received awards. In 2005, it won an Americans for the Arts Public Art Network Year in Review award. In 2006, it received the Advanced Textiles Association Award of Excellence.
The city embraces this sculpture. The work represents a soft set of membranes moving in the wind. The sculpture’s dimensions are impressive with the Net being 150 ft. in length x 150 ft. in width x 80 ft. in depth. Installation Dimensions are 485 ft. length x 406 ft. width x 160 ft. height.
So next time you see As Bailarinas Sculpture take a moment. Think about Porto’s past and present. Consider the art and engineering that make it possible. It truly changes with the wind.