Delta Solar, Metal sculpture at National Air and Space Museum, United States.
Delta Solar is a metal sculpture at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., featuring shiny stainless steel sails mounted on a geometric grid framework. The structure measures roughly 27 feet by 40 feet and resembles a modern interpretation of a sailing vessel or wind-driven kinetic form.
The sculpture was dedicated in 1977 by Venezuela's president Carlos Andrés Pérez as a gift marking the bicentennial of American independence. It stands as a symbol of friendship between the nations and cultural ties that crossed borders.
The sculpture comes from Venezuelan artist Alejandro Otero and merges inspiration from Incan sun symbolism with contemporary technological forms. This fusion of two cultural traditions creates a dialogue between past and present.
The sculpture sits in a reflecting pool at the museum's western entrance and is freely accessible to all visitors without admission charges. It can be visited any time of year, but appears especially dynamic when wind sets the steel components in motion.
The steel components are designed so they rotate independently when affected by wind currents, constantly creating new patterns of light reflection. This gentle motion makes every hour and weather condition reveal a different visual experience.
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