INFINITI Inspiration: Daniel Wurtzel’s visual poetry takes flight

INFINITI
INFINITI

Daring and forward aren’t so much what Daniel Wurtzel does, but rather who he is.

The New York-based sculptor and artist was selected by INFINITI to celebrate the automaker’s growing lineup of SUVs and crossovers in New York on Aug. 17 via a beautiful display of design and art that captures the brand’s essence — daring, forward, and human — called “Sine Wave.” Daniel’s work around the world is highly acclaimed for its motion and grace, capturing an elegance that’s inspired, in part, by his fascination with fluidity and flight.

Processed with VSCO with c8 preset

“I’ve found (flight) to be, for whatever reason, enormously compelling — visually compelling and the physics behind it too,” Daniel says from his studio in New York on a hot summer afternoon before the Aug. 17 debut of his work at Oculus Transportation Station. “Motion is really what I’m about. I’ve done a lot of different things. But flight seems to be … always there.”

More than just the surface-level concept of flight, Daniel’s installations embrace deeper meanings of flying by working with the way air naturally organizes itself. In combination with other materials, it can evoke a hypnotic and more emotional connection with viewers.

“Sculpture is more like poetry than it is like a novel. More like a picture than a movie. You only have a few words to say exactly what you mean to say. So, it needs to be succinct, and it needs to be on target.” Daniel says. But airflow is chaotic by nature, as are most, if not all, natural systems. “The ways that chaos plays out over time creates a visual poetry that we humans are pre-programmed to recognize as beauty.”

He’s right. There are plenty of references to poetry to be found in Daniel’s work. From the more overt Paper Tornado he created for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics closing ceremony to the flowing, Pas de Deux installation created for the Grand Palais in Paris, the direct and indirect lines to poetry are apparent.

There’s an efficiency of movement in his pieces, a sense of awe and wonder.

“What I am trying to do is find order in a fluid ocean of chaos,” he says. There’s poetry in what appears to be pandemonium.

But it’s his connection to the physical world that elevates Daniel’s work beyond its superficial chaos. Trained as an architect, Daniel is also rooted in his art firmly through his analytical mind. Creating an installation begins conceptually but then takes shape in how Daniel works with his medium to present. Manipulating his materials in-flight demands intense coordination between sometimes dozens of fans that create a repeatable aerodynamic system that is also inherently variable.

Daniel spends his days refining those processes the way a poet whittles words and phrases, bending language to evoke emotion.

“If you expand the definition of poetry beyond the written word and include poetic things, poetic visuals, poetic experiences, and feelings and all of these things, you could make an argument that driving a really well-made car is a poetic experience,” he says.

In the same way, Daniel’s art also requires a human. Central to the experience, viewers are encouraged to bring their own interpretations to Daniel’s creations.

“I don’t want to tell people what to think,” he says.”Let the experience speak for itself and spark whatever connotations it might with other people.”

He doesn’t mind, and whether it’s spirituality, sensuality, or sensational, the poetry in his pieces resides in each viewer.

Leave a Comment

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

More in News

Chiron Super Sport Draws Inspiration From Bugatti Type 50S v2

Chiron Super Sport Draws Inspiration From Bugatti Type 50S

In 1937, Bugatti won the 24 Hours of Le Mans ...
McLaren Artura Spider

The new McLaren Artura Spider: Next-generation Supercar Exhilaration

McLaren has today revealed the new Artura Spider, its first-ever ...
How Many Lamborghini Veneno Were Made

How Many Lamborghini Veneno Were Made?

Lamborghini produced a very limited number of Veneno models. In ...
Bentayga EWB Two-Tone - 1

Bentayga EWB Azure V8 – Handcrafted By Mulliner

A striking, highly personalised duo-tone Bentayga EWB Azure V8 – ...

Trending on Gridiron Chronicle

Profit at Honda doubles on strong global sales of cars and motorcycles

Filed under: Earnings/Financials,Acura,Honda Continue reading Profit at Honda doubles on ...

Last call for Chrysler 300C, Dodge Charger, Challenger: Get your orders in by July 31

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing,Chrysler,Dodge,Performance Continue reading Last call for Chrysler 300C, ...

Citroen still hasn’t locked in electric cars for Australia

It’s been almost two years since Citroen Australia said it ...

Audi RS Q8 Refresh Spied Still Hiding New Face, Debut Coming Soon

The minor camouflage wrap should disappear by the end of ...
Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Wins Motor1.com Star Award for Best Value

The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid has won the inaugural Motor1.com Star ...