Abram Santa Cruz / Liquid PXL
Kukulkan’s Portal
On display November 6–15, 2020
Los Angeles, California
Kukulkan’s Portal is a light-based sculpture in the shape of the Merkabah, enclosed in an aluminum cube. Featuring 10,000 individually programmable LEDs, the design shows the geometric relationship between the Merkabah and the cube, honoring new discoveries in mathematics and science through its modular geometric design.
The Merkabah, a stellated octahedron often associated with sacred geometry, is entirely constructed of translucent Lexan multi-wall sheets encased in industrial-strength resins and lined with LEDs. The cube is made from aluminum truss and skinned with a laser-cut designs of Kukulkan—a Mesoamerican serpent deity worshipped by the Yucatec Maya people—and other important symbols to Maya peoples. The cube contains LEDs that can be controlled separately from the Merkabah’s lighting.
- Lead Artist: Abram Santa Cruz
- Fabricator: Andrea Evangelista
- LED Engineer: Charles Dusastre
- Assistant: Gabby Smiga
- Fabricator: Michelle Saizon
- Fabricator: Topher McDaniel
- Fabricator: Victor Segura
Location: Kukulkan’s Portal will be located at the intersection of 1st Avenue and Marshall Way in Old Town Scottsdale.
Artwork rigging and installation provided by Hannon Rigging & Production.
Virtual Viewing
Biography
Liquid PXL is a Los Angeles-based group of artists, engineers, and friends dedicated to creating fun and large-scale interactive art installations. Their first major art project was featured at Burning Man in 2012, followed by their first music festival exhibit at Lucidity in Santa Barbara, California, in 2013. Since then, they have completed five art installations, with two projects awarded the Arts Grant from Burning Man, and several works exhibiting internationally.