"Desert Breath" - Huge Art in the Desert

Located in the Egyptian desert near Hurghada on the Red Sea coast, is a gigantic piece of art in the shape of double spiral. Called "Desert Breath", it was created by D.A.ST. Arteam - group of three Greek women artists - Danae Stratou, Sculptor; Alexandra Stratou, Industrial Designer; and Stella Constantinides, Architect.

The art work completed on March 7, 1997, measures 360x300 metres (1181x984 ft.) spanning an area of of more than one hundred thousand sq. metres (about a million square ft.). It consists of 89 protruding cones, of gradually increasing size, set in a spiral and another 89 depressed (incised) cones set in a second spirals. At the centre of these two spirals are a pair of two large cones with protruding cone fitting inside the incised cone. Originally the larger incised cone was filled with water which created an impression of a micro Island in a small circular lake. The water has since evaporated.

The beauty of this art work is that its construction didn't involve any wastage. Whatever sand was dug out from the depressed cones was used to create the protruding cones. The artwork is eco-friendly, subject to natural erosion and in due course the area will revert back to original desert surface.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Image from Panoramio is by voutsen

Image from Panoramio is by voutsen

Image from Panoramio is by zzuix36

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More information and images: Official web page of Danae Stratou - one of the artist involved in creating this strange but beautiful piece of art in the desert.