In 2024, we welcomed international artist Wolfgang Buttress for the commissioning of NINFEO, an immersive sound, light, and sculptural experience housed in the Contemplative Commons.
NINFEO is made up of 3,320 unique, laser-etched illuminated crystal blocks inspired by the water lilies of the Dell Pond and based on thousands of three-dimensional hand drawings. A 180-degree infrared camera is attached to a French antique buoy in the pond, tracking the movement of fish, flora, and currents in the Dell. This triggers a responsive light and sound system that infuses the installation. A thermal camera in the roof of the installation expresses human movement in the crystal blocks as warm, white light. The installation helps connect viewers with a theme that is reinforced throughout the Contemplative Commons: the essential interplay between humans and the natural world.
The work is also draws inspiration from Monet’s Ninfee e Nuvole and the Villa di Liva in Rome.
Experience NINFEO at the Contemplative Commons first floor gallery during Contemplative Commons open hours.
NINFEO is commissioned by A. Cary Brown (Col ’84) and Steve Epstein, in honor of their friend Lyn Bolen Warren (Grad Arts & Sciences ’86, ’94).
PRESS
CVILLE WEEKLY: Acclaimed artist Wolfgang Buttress designs a community treasure
Envision Magazine: A Serene Immersion
Architectural Record: Mind and Matter
Virginia Public Radio: UVA immerses visitors in a world of sound and light
Watch videos about NINFEO