Digital DNA, Technology sculpture in downtown Palo Alto, US
Digital DNA is an egg-shaped sculpture completely covered with recycled computer circuit boards, steel, and fiberglass materials. The structure was created by artists Adriana Varella and Nilton Maltz and merges technological components with artistic form.
Artists Adriana Varella and Nilton Maltz created the work in 2005 to express the growing importance of digital technology in society. After 13 years at Lytton Plaza, it was relocated in 2018 to Harvard Business School.
The surface displays technology-related text in multiple languages such as Arabic, Russian, French, and Japanese. This multilingual approach explores how different cultures interact with and think about technology.
The sculpture can be viewed from various angles around its exterior, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the layered recycled materials from different perspectives. Access is straightforward, though weather and outdoor conditions may affect the viewing experience.
The artwork uses actual recycled computer boards as its primary building material, creating a direct material connection between its form and its message about technological progress. This choice of using discarded electronics transforms the sculpture into a statement about both technology and sustainability.
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