DRIFT’s luminous flowers dance in the courtyard of Palazzo Strozzi

Shy Society is a site-specific installation in the courtyard of Palazzo Strozzi by DRIFT, the Dutch duo formed by Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta, who work at the intersection of artistic investigation and technological experimentation; over the years they have transformed a number of evocative architectures around the world.

The large choral and kinetic sculpture is an immersive experience. The movement of the large suspended flowers occupies the space and moves within it to the sound of music. Looking up to observe the dance of the flowers, one witnesses the wonder of a slow pulsation in which the large suspended sculptures contract and unfold to the notes of an evocative soundtrack, a symphonic piece by American composer, songwriter and hip-hop star RZA, best known as part of the celebrated Wu Tang Clan.
 

The idea for Shy Society came from a fascination with a natural phenomenon known as noctynasty, whereby some plants and flowers close their petals during the night and reopen them at dawn: this behaviour serves both to protect themselves and to conserve resources.