Walter OltmannNaiad, 2025
Anodized aluminum wire, plastic beads and enamel paint
Work: 80 x 65 x 26 cm (31.5 x 25.6 x 10.2 in.)
‘Naiad’ refers to a larva or nymph of a dragonfly, mayfly or stonefly, insects that have the ability to hover in mid-air. They often dart short distances and then resume a hovering position. In classical mythology, a naiad (water nymph) was said to inhabit a river, spring, or waterfall. Although this sculpture does not closely resemble the dragonfly, it captures some of the characteristics of a hovering insect and may recall figures from myth or fairy tales. The black patterning is loosely derived from orchid petals.
