In the eastern Sahara desert around the Red Sea stands Desert Breath, a amazing land-art venture consists of perfectly-formed cones and a glimmering share of water. Situated between the mountains on the Egypt desert floor, this site-specific set up was the work of D.A.ST. Arteam, made up of Danae Stratou (installation artist), Alexandra Stratou (industrial developer and architect), and Stella Constantindies (architect). They invested from 1995 to 1997 working on Desert Breath, moving 8,000 square metres of sand to make what we see here. The types of the two interlock spirals are marked with cones that make both good and bad types, as some point up towards the sky while others increase below the surface. Everything extends from its center, a boat of water filled rim to rim. All told, this large and amazing venture covers 100,000 square metres (about 1 million square feet).
The terrain was the the power behind Desert Breath, and the three women established D.A.ST. Arteam just for the performance of this venture. Danae Stratou describes, “In our mind’s eye the desert was a place where one encounters infinity. We were dealing with the desert as a mind-set, a landscape of the mind.” You can view the set up in more than one way. From above, it types a complete visible picture where we can amazing at its design an performance. Or, if we’re fortunate enough to encounter it from the ground, it is a physical encounter as you walk the process and come face to face with with the larger-than-life cones.
Although it’s been 17 years since the project’s completion, Desert Breath still continues to be. Just like the conical sands that form when you turn over an shapely, it too demonstrates the passing of time, as wind and other components go back and reintroduce it to the surrounding landscape.
Desert Breath
Source : Desert Breath project page