Daniel Popper is a multidisciplinary artist renowned for his monumental sculptures that merge the organic spirit of nature with the imaginative essence of the divine. His visionary, large-scale figures, crafted from materials like wood, fiberglass, and Fiber Glass Reinforced Cement (FGRC), evoke a sense of the sacred and transcendental. Popper’s work transforms public and private spaces into surreal environments, inviting viewers to engage with hybrid entities that blend elements of nature and humanity. These sculptures often serve as stages, gateways, or chapels at major art and music festivals such as Afrikaburn, Boom Festival, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Electric Forest. Popper’s creations invite contemplation, blending the material with the numinous, and often feature illuminating projections that enhance their mystical quality. These elemental monuments, whether enduring or ephemeral, serve as totems for reflection and connection, encapsulating a profound interplay between art, nature, and the human spirit.
Daniel Popper's THE AEONIUM SCULPTURE is a striking 16-foot-tall creation that captures the resilience and beauty of the succulent it’s named after. During the day, the sculpture’s design draws inspiration from the spiral, rosette-shaped arrangement of Aeonium leaves, with large, thick, waxy forms that fan outward in shades of green, purple, and earthy hues. Known for his monumental, organic designs, Popper has crafted AEONIUM to evoke strength and serenity, inviting visitors to immerse themselves around its structure. As night falls, the sculpture undergoes a mesmerizing transformation through projection mapping. Carefully designed visuals are projected onto the surfaces, bringing the sculpture to life with moving patterns and shifting colors. This nightly projection mapping adds a dynamic, otherworldly layer to AEONIUM, enhancing its immersive quality and allowing the structure to become a living, evolving part of its surroundings. This interplay of light and form reinforces Aeonium’s celebration of nature’s resilience, creating an enchanting experience that captivates viewers in a new way each evening.