Levitated Mass The Story Of Michael Heizer's Monolithic Sculpture
Levitated Mass is a monolithic sculpture created by American artist Michael Heizer. It is located at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and has become an iconic landmark in the city of Los Angeles. The sculpture is made up of a 340-ton granite boulder that appears to be levitating above a concrete trench.
The idea for the sculpture came to Heizer in 1968, but it wasn't until 2006 that the project was finally realized. The boulder was transported from a quarry in Riverside County to LACMA over the course of several weeks. The journey was a monumental feat of engineering and required the construction of a custom-built transporter.
The Concept
The concept behind Levitated Mass is to create a sense of awe and wonder in the viewer. Heizer wanted to create a sculpture that would make people stop and think about the relationship between the earth and the sky, and the weight and mass of objects. By levitating a massive boulder above the ground, he creates a sense of tension and balance that is both beautiful and thought-provoking.
Heizer has been creating large-scale sculptures for over 50 years and is known for his work with earthworks and land art. His sculptures often incorporate natural materials like rocks and dirt and are designed to interact with the environment around them.
The Installation
The installation of Levitated Mass was a massive undertaking that required the coordination of hundreds of people. The boulder was transported from a quarry in Riverside County to LACMA over the course of several weeks. The journey was slow and methodical, with the boulder moving at a speed of only a few miles per hour.
Once the boulder arrived at the museum, it was lowered into a concrete trench that had been specially constructed to support its weight. The trench is 456 feet long and 15 feet deep, and required the excavation of over 100,000 cubic yards of dirt. The boulder was then carefully positioned on top of the trench using a custom-built crane.
The Legacy
Levitated Mass has become an iconic landmark in the city of Los Angeles and has inspired countless people to think about the relationship between art and the environment. The sculpture has been featured in numerous films, TV shows, and music videos, and has become a symbol of the city's cultural heritage.
Heizer's work with earthworks and land art has had a significant impact on the art world and has inspired many artists to explore the relationship between art and nature. His sculptures are designed to interact with the environment around them, and often incorporate natural materials like rocks and dirt.
The Conclusion
Levitated Mass is a monolithic sculpture that has captured the imagination of people around the world. Michael Heizer's vision of a massive boulder levitating above the ground has become a symbol of the relationship between art and nature. The installation of the sculpture was a monumental feat of engineering and required the coordination of hundreds of people. Today, Levitated Mass is an iconic landmark in the city of Los Angeles and a testament to the power of art to inspire and transform.