Client: Private client

Overview

A team of 60 artists and engineers collaborated on this complex project from the initial prototyping to the spectacular finished product. Along the way we invented a new and unique flexible webbing for the wings that allowed for individually addressable embedded high-density two-way LED strips; designed light-transmitting scales made of UV resistant polycarbonate; installed a fully retractable hydraulic wingset boasting a 60′ wingspan; and designed custom 3D mapping systems for lighting content development. Our remarkable achievement represents a successful alliance between artists, innovators, metalworkers, LED technologists, structural engineers, pyrotechnicians, dreamers, and dragonriders.

Goals

Sean Orlando and the Engineered Artworks team were tasked with adding a new beast to the dragonverse: A dynamic and anatomically realistic vehicular dragon sculpture complete with proportional wings capable of rotational and bilateral flight motion, and programmable LED lights visible throughout its physique. And, of course, this baby breathes fire.