Bebot
A large-scale illuminated sculpture by Andrea Greenlees, fabricated by LostMachine Design from the artist’s completed 3D model and carried through shop assembly, Black Rock City installation and later relocation.
Executing a resolved design at full scale.
Andrea Greenlees supplied the complete artistic design and a fully developed 3D model for Bebot. That 3D model had to be translated into shop drawings before the first parts were cut. The fabrication task was to translate Andrea’s resolved digital model accurately into a large physical sculpture.
That work required fabrication planning, repeated curved and formed metal components, shop assembly, transportation and field installation. The sculpture debuted at Black Rock City and was later acquired by Post Brothers Construction for long-term display in Philadelphia.
Structure transformed by light.
From a complete 3D model to a physical structure.
Fabrication planning
The artistic geometry was already resolved. LostMachine determined a practical fabrication sequence while preserving Andrea’s model.
Repeated curved components
The structure required many curved and formed metal members. Repeatability and fit were essential as those parts accumulated into the full-scale figure.
Shop assembly
Major sections were assembled and checked at full scale before transport so alignment, connections and installation sequencing could be resolved in the shop.
Near-whiteout conditions. A fixed opening deadline.
Installation took place in severe playa weather, with near-whiteout conditions reducing visibility during portions of the work. The crew continued the installation and completed the sculpture before the gates opened.
The field work demonstrates the part of artist fabrication that happens after the shop: transport planning, lifting, assembly, problem solving and completing the work under real site conditions.
From Black Rock City to Philadelphia.
After its Black Rock City presentation, Bebot was purchased by Post Brothers Construction and relocated to a public outdoor park and food-court setting in Philadelphia.
Build the artist’s work, not a variation of it.
Bebot is an example of LostMachine’s role when an artist arrives with a resolved design. The creative authorship remains with the artist. LostMachine contributes fabrication knowledge, process development, shop work, logistics and field execution required to make that design physical.
LostMachine Design works with artists and studios on unusual physical projects from completed 3D models through fabrication and installation.
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