Artist: Yuri Tsuzuki
What was the inspiration behind the piece created?
The Butterfly Project is a 3 part art installation. The very first butterfly was installed April 1, 2015. Since then, I have placed over close to 500 steel butterflies all over Downtown Greenville – on building facades and light posts to symbolize Greenville’s transformation from textile town to high tech manufacturing hub. Eventually, the butterflies “migrated” to the entrance of the Cancer Survivor’s Park in “Butterfly Journey” – an archway of blue butterflies to symbolize the journey of transformation that begins for patients and families diagnosed with cancer. “Transformation” is the final artwork of this project. I thought it was important to share with passersby the impetus and inspiration of the butterfly.
How long did the piece take to create?
“Transformation” is a steel sculpture cut with plasma. I sanded the steel, polished, and torched it to achieve the bluish tonal gradations. With pliers and heavy pushing and pulling, the butterflies seem to be fluttering out from the wall. Much time was spent with Hubbell Lighting to select the correct lighting fixtures. The wall supporting the sculpture was also xrayed in order to determine the weight loads.
All in all the fabrication process took 6 months.
What is your favorite part of the piece created and why?
Butterflies flutter and emerge. Some have taken flight; others remain still – waiting for their turn. I like the minimal and quietness of this sculpture. But even more importantly, it tells a story.
Completed date: September 2017
1 N Main St suite h, Greenville, SC 29601
