Whether it’s a gigantic sculpture gently welcoming us inside it’s lush illuminated chest while strolling around in Tulum (Ven a La Luz – see cover photo). Whether it’s a Venus-portal we can walk through at electronic beat tempos, lulled by a compassionate gaze (Boom Venus). Whether it’s a Shaman who’s belly promises safe refuge (Emergence). Whether it’s an immense Cocker Spaniel completely covered in greenery, safeguarding the entrance to a music festival (Forest Dawgs). One thing is certain: Daniel Popper’s unmistakably unique genius is always present.

 

Boom Venus, Boom Festival 2014

 

Emergence with daylight, Boom Festival 2018

 

Emergence by night

 

Forest Dawgs, Electric Forest 2018

 

Between monoliths, near real and fantasy creatures, Daniel’s colossal artworks often bear some common denominators given by the intrinsic essence of the artwork in itself. Openly dancing in an eternal dialogue with the surrounding environment, they frequently whisper of a profound connection between the human being and nature.

 

Tripolee Stage, Electric Forest 2015

 

Reflections, AfrikaBurn 2013

 

At night the sculptures, that are sometimes higher than 12 metres, come to life through the lights of scenographic mappings, thanks to which the elements they are made of – organic elements, plants, woods, steel, aluminum, ropes, recycled materials – add value and become yet more spectacular.

 

Boom Venus – night version

 

Shaman, Boom Festival 2015

 

With his magic marvels, Daniel has actively contributed to many festivals amongst which Electric Festival, Lightning in a Bottle, Boom Festival, Burning Man and AfrikaBurn. He also works on commissioned pieces connected to territorial issues to rise awareness on the fragile ecosystem we are part of.

During one of my endless researches on the net where I don’t even remember exactly what the starting point is, I come across the impressive 10 metre artwork Ven a La Luz, created in occasion of the Art With Me 2018 event in Tulum, Mexico.

 

Ven a La Luz for Art with Me 2018, Tulum, Mexico – detail

 

One web page after the other I get to Daniel Popper’s website. Suddenly, an absurd world where everything is possible and where characters on the borders of reality emerge in front of my eyes.

.  .  .

 

WHY
why and how did you end up in your career path?
I started in 2007 at the first regional Burning Man event in South Africa, and it was the first event that opened my eyes to doing interactive installation work. A sort of new space for showing artwork and a new way of approaching it by using the environment, space and people, focusing on all the different elements that specific space provided. From there, one thing led to another and I started to create more and more works of this kind and started moving to stage design and the festival world. I found an interesting link between that and site-specific art installations and worked on creating public work, playing around with temporary and permanent installations.

WHO
how would you describe yourself in a few words?
I would say that I’m curious. I do a lot of personal work to stay curious because I think that curiosity is one of the most important qualities for a human to have. I’m always interested in how things are made and how things are done and the methods people use to create things on any level, from architecture to buildings, industrial design, spatial design, relationships, whatever. It’s about approaching these things with a curiosity, I would never propose to have any answers to anything because every time I think I know something I learn something different and new, so that’s very important to me.

The other two things would be that I am introverted and extroverted at the same time, a combination where I am very shy in the crowd but also able to talk with ease when it comes to public speaking.

WHAT
what is your source of inspiration?
There’s an interesting quote from Picasso, I’ll read it to you now: “Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working”. Basically, there’s not one thing that inspires me but it’s being constantly engaged in the process of my work; elements of inspiration will arrive. For example if there’s a new project or brief to create an installation for, say a hotel, or a development, a festival or whatever it is, I will engage with the space, the surroundings, the kind of place, the kind of festival, the music. I will start working with all the elements and be inspired along the way. If I’m not inspired it means I’m not working.

WHERE
where do you go to when you need a break?
Home with my wife and kids.

WHEN
when and what will your next steps be?
Next year I have quite a busy year. I have gigs in Australia, Tulum in Mexico, Europe and the USA. Across the border between stage designs, installation arts, public work, permanent and temporary pieces, and also small scale interior and collection pieces. I’m focusing more on permanent and public work and less on temporary festival work. For example the stage design in Europe will remain a permanent structure; that gives me a greater sense of investment.

**WILDCARD
what majestic artwork haven’t you created yet?
A sculpture for Burning Man in Nevada.