Swirling Vortexes and Ghostly Humans Emerge From Hand-Painted Transparent Sheets by David Spriggs

Vancouver-based artist David Spriggs creates large-scale 3D installations by by layering hand-painted transparencies within custom frameworks. The massive sculptural installations pull viewers in and shift based on perspective, while exploring themes of space-time, movement, surveillance, power dynamics, and other complex conceptual ideas.

For his larger installations, Spriggs tells Colossal that he creates and works from abstract topographical maps that are based on perfect geometric shapes. “I often use the golden ratio to determine placement and shape of a form. Axis of Power for example is based on a perfect golden spiral and the placement of the eye of the storm located at the golden ratio of the installation at 1.618. The artwork Gravity also is based on the golden spiral with all the marks following this spiral in a perfect hemisphere.” Spriggs also builds smaller models and digital maquettes to prepare for certain larger works.

Spriggs’ installations have grown significantly over the past 20 years. “I have always been aware of how scale can influence the viewer,” he shares. “Many of my artworks on the subject of power are large to create a certain power relationship and/or have a perceptual impact with the viewer. Scale has often been used throughout art history to promote and affirm concepts and power…Almost always the concept dictates the size of one of my artworks. A work like ‘Gold’ for example would have quite a different meaning and impact if it was a small piece.”

To see more of his installations, follow David Spriggs on Instagram.

“Gravity” (detail)

“Gravity” (detail)

“Regisole” (2015), Arsenal Montreal

“Regisole” (detail)

“Axis of Power” (2015) Sharjah Art Museum, United Arab Emirates

“Axis of Power” (detail)

“In Utero II” (2019)

“In Utero II” (detail)