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What Is Hope? Taps Into Kinetics + Inspires Optimism for DIFFA

04.13.22 | By
What Is Hope? Taps Into Kinetics + Inspires Optimism for DIFFA

A new experimental sculpture has been created by Giles Miller Studio in honor of the Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids (DIFFA) in New York. What Is Hope? was unveiled in March 2022 during an event celebrating DIFFA’s nearly four decades of raising funds to fight AIDS, homelessness, food scarcity, and mental health issues.

“Inspired by their cause, and at a time when global issues feel relentless in their oppression of humanity and happiness, we saw an opportunity to call for optimism,” Miller shared.

hanging sculpture in cement walled interior space

The sculptural sphere was created in collaboration with the NYC branch of HDR as part of their most recent exploration of the relationship between light and geometry. What Is Hope? features a matrix constructed of hundreds of cylindrical modules that are connected by raw aluminum rods. Most of the static silver reflective ‘dots’ are oriented in the opposite direction of those in the central core. The central ‘dots’ constantly rotate, which Miller hopes will inspire optimism, reminding the viewer to hold onto the hope found within themselves.

detail of hands adjusting hanging sculpture

“As a studio we continue to develop new surface and sculptural typologies, and with every iteration comes a deeper understanding of the visual and material effects they are able to generate using reflection and the manipulation of light,” Miller said. “This latest installation incorporates a kinetic element in the central spinning core, and as always, our work is typified by an artistic approach to a designed system (in this case named the Plexus system), which we look forward to developing into new forms and installations in the future as this concept evolves.”

man with hanging sculpture in cement walled interior space

hanging sculpture in cement walled interior space

detail of hanging sculpture

hanging sculpture in cement walled interior space

hanging sculpture in cement walled interior space

detail of hanging sculpture

detail of hanging sculpture

detail of hanging sculpture

detail of hanging sculpture

detail of hanging sculpture

detail of hanging sculpture

detail of hanging sculpture

detail of hanging sculpture

To learn more about the What is Hope? sculpture, visit gilesmiller.com.

Photography by Edvinas Bruzas.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.