2022 Creative Revolutionaries: Celebrating Artistic Genius in Social Commentary and Technological Achievement

Once again, CODAworx is oh so proud to feature those in the art + design world whose outstanding work implores us to pay attention. We designate them our Creative Revolutionaries, a term of endearment that represents the passion of the entire commissioned art industry - as we are all tirelessly working to make a difference. Some of these seemingly superhuman creators are artists who express their visions for a better world - one that is just, forgiving, playful, loving and serene. Others are pioneers in using new technology to advance the design and construction of fantastic and engaging works of art, many that similarly impart messages promoting important social causes. It is my privilege to introduce you to these amazing individuals and their work.

Creative Revolutionaries for Social Change

Throughout history, artists have created imagery that inspires us to solve real-world problems, remember past injustices, and honor the best intentions of our heroes. 2021 was a year marked by the continued presence of COVID-19, the thoughtful discussion of topics such as climate change, race relations, economic disparity, violence toward others and more. Many of our Creative Revolutionaries implore us to fight injustice, to honor triumphs of the spirit, and to direct our attention to environmental issues that threaten our collective well-being. Remembrance is a common thread among many works, admonishing us to not forget the transgressions of the past, lest they be repeated.

Wendy Maruyama’s The Tag Project addresses the 1942 forced incarceration of Japanese Americans, replicating the ID tags issued to 120,000 internees at ten detention camps across the United States. The scope and numbers of people forced into these camps is painfully demonstrated by the monumental stacks of tags.

I AM A MAN Plaza by Cliff Garten, pays tribute to the pivotal 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was assassinated there. The “I am a Man!” slogan came to represent the struggle of the working poor and racial inequality across the United States.

Anthony Rowe’s SOLA (Tunnel of Light) lifts the spirits of the healthcare workers at a London hospital, fighting a seemingly endless COVID pandemic. A vast array of 300+ collimated light sources envelop visitors in a wall of sunshine, lightening the long winter and illuminating these dark times.

James Tapscott’s natural elements create sensory experiences both felt and observed. Diaphanous Bloom features a polished stainless steel minimalist “tree” that periodically erupts in diaphanous clouds of mist, enveloping a busy Shenzhen, China intersection. Tapscott reminds us that nature can only thrive in these urban environments to a limited extent.

Our Common Home, by Daniel Iregui, is a large-scale public art exhibition that uses artificial intelligence and computer vision to track the behavior of people engaging with large interactive displays. Fusing art and interaction technology, it sends a message of urgency for climate action, reminding us that our individual decisions have a global environmental impact.

Dynamo, by Daniel Canogar, is a site-specific audiovisual project designed for Expo Dubái 2020. Three sculptural interlaced loops feature visitor-generative audiovisual content; the more direct visitor contact is detected, the more dynamic and colorful Dynamo's screens. Dynamo exemplifies the collective as an alternate energy source for a sustainable future.

Creative Revolutionaries for Technological Change

Our featured Creative Revolutionary artists, designers and fabricators bring a cornucopia of amazing artworks to life. The scale, scope and technological complexity of art installations continues to grow, seemingly exponentially, because of their boundless aesthetic, technical proficiency and practical genius.

Ryan “Yanoe” Sarfati and Eric “Zoueh” Skotnes have created the world’s largest augmented reality mural in Majestic, spanning 15,000 sq. ft. Redefining what's possible, Sarfati and Skotnes built a fully immersive 360 degree AR experience.

Nancy Baker Cahill’s The Mushroom Cloud Project is an animated drawing informed by the architecture and function of fungal colonies. The artwork exists in augmented reality; in sculptural objects; in embedded “blueprint” and writings; in the conceptual framework of the blockchain; and in the form of non-fungible token (NFTs). Viewers experience a bespoke digital artwork, geolocated in two separate locations.

And Joe Riché, founder of Demiurge LLC, creates greatly admired installations that honor the history, culture, architecture and environment of the place. The Branson Aquarium features an octopus sculpture, built of stainless steel and painted carbon steel. Despite its scale (34 tons and 55-feet tall), the sculpture remains a true piece of art.

This January issue of our newly relaunched CODAmagazine is the beginning of our efforts to showcase the creative revolution that the world’s public artists are bringing to our cities and communities. I hope the collective efforts of these Creative Revolutionaries resonate and inspire you, as we all hold hands and move forward to make a difference in this new year of 2022. Together, we can change the world.