Beginning November 14, 20 larger-than-life, mobile tops will appear on the lawn of Discovery Green—ready to be pushed, spun, ridden, and admired. An installation of sophisticated mechanical and social design, “Los Trompos” (“The Spinning Tops”) will transform a commonplace toy into an expressive, interactive experience for park-goers. After exhibiting a set of tops in Atlanta, the internationally acclaimed Mexican design team of Héctor Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena partnered with the Discovery Green to fabricate a customized second iteration of Los Trompos for Houston.
Esrawe and Cadena’s tops consist of a lower bench, a central pole, and a canopy. Colorful cords are spun around these elements in decorative twists or are woven into beautiful structural supports. Beckoning with bright color combinations and engaging optical effects, the tops require the teamwork of at least two people to activate their spinning motion.
Discovery Green Conservancy Programming Director Susanne Theis notes that Esrawe and Cadena are “trying to create a playscape” and that “they’re really more focused on what people do with ‘Los Trompos,’” rather than the exhibition’s aesthetic appeal. The nevertheless visually enticing tops will also be featured as an element in some of the park’s other events—which have been specifically designed to interact with the installation and include appearances by creative locals Cirque La Vie and Aerosol Warfare.
An opening celebration on November 14 starts at 2 p.m. and is followed by an artist talk at 5 p.m. “Los Trompos” runs November 14 through March 22, 2016 at Discovery Green. For more information, visit discoverygreen.com.
This article appears in Nov 5-11, 2015.