Giant Chameleon is a permanent public artwork commissioned by the Municipality of Olbia as part of the renewal of the walls surrounding the city’s railway station.
Measuring eight metres in width, 2.9 metres in height and 50 centimetres in depth, the wall sculpture was assembled from reclaimed plastics, discarded household and urban objects, rubber, driftwood and metal components. Containers, panels, hoses and broken objects remain individually recognisable while forming the anatomy of a monumental chameleon.
The work was constructed and painted on site as a live public performance. After the sculptural installation was completed, a geometric painted background extended the composition across the architecture and integrated the animal into the station environment.
The chameleon’s ability to transform and adapt becomes a metaphor for the materials themselves. Removed from their original functions, discarded objects acquire a new collective identity, turning a previously anonymous urban wall into a permanent public landmark.
Year 2019
Commissioner Municipality of Olbia
Location Olbia railway station, Sardinia, Italy
Dimensions 800 × 290 x 50 cm
Materials Reclaimed plastics, discarded household and urban objects, rubber, driftwood, metal fixings, screws and spray paint
Rarity Unique work
Medium Site-specific public wall sculpture and mural installation
Status Permanent public artwork
Making the work
COMMISSION A PUBLIC ARTWORK
Giant Chameleon was developed as a permanent intervention for a highly visible urban location, transforming reclaimed materials into a work created specifically for the architecture and community of Olbia.
Scoobafish develops site-specific commissions in dialogue with municipalities, cultural institutions, architects and urban planners. Each project responds to its location and may combine reclaimed materials, sculpture, mural painting and public participation.
Scale, materials, site requirements, installation, timing and budget are defined individually for every commission.
Thank you!
*Your email address is protected. I take your privacy seriously and never share your data. You can change your mind any time.