An immersive balloon art installation hosted by Hardy and Nance Studios as part of ARTCRAWL 2023
“Messengers”, my inaugural balloon art exhibition, was displayed at Hardy and Nance Studios in Houston, TX November 17th-18th. Created in two months from concept to execution, it contained approx. three thousand balloons which took two weeks to inflate and assemble.
The installation highlights three mysterious creatures who fashion themselves as messengers of truth. When it comes to sources of meaning and morality, one person’s deity is another’s devil. And when practicing discernment, skepticism is prudent, as messiahs have a way of turning out to be monsters. These messengers warrant a critical eye, but not for their appearance. As proven by many a kind-eyed manipulator and silver-tongued abuser, evil has no aesthetic.
Council
A young maiden ventures into the dark forest to seek council from the Owl King. However, his wisdom comes at a price.
Beware the ulterior motives of those selling a message. The draw of gold corrupts the most well-meaning, and the young and naive are forever ripe for exploitation.
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The Lightbringer
Like Jesus preaching parables to those without understanding, the most compelling messengers often keep their message shrouded in mystery, putting up obstructions to their teachings.
In this piece, The Lightbringer adds to a well with no bucket, surrounded by attractive roses adorned with repelling thorns. The test of obfuscation ensures only the most loyal adherents, trapping many in a sunk-cost fallacy and desire to be special.
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The Scribe
The scribe works in solitude to transcribe the cave’s messages. Whether his alterations are accidental or deliberate, his corrupted transcription is held as truth.
Ancient wisdom multiplies its fallibility with every scribe it passes through. The original sources are forever out of reach, immune from authentication through lost texts and the context of the culture they came from. Any messenger claiming authoritative interpretation of wisdom from a lost age is disingenuous or delusional.
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Less than a week later, it was all gone...
A Retrospective
This project was the hardest thing I’ve ever done and my proudest accomplishment to date. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my partner Minty who was by my side through every grueling day and sleepless night. I’d also like to thank Claire Richards and Hardy and Nance Studios for providing this space and their support, along with the helping hands of Louie Balloonie, Josh Clark, Haley Damon, and more.
Coming early 2024, I’ll be posting day-by-day build journals for the Messengers exhibition while I quietly work on my next major project. This was a very costly endeavor paid for out-of-pocket, so if you’ve enjoyed my work and would like to support my art, donations are greatly appreciated.
