New Sculpture by Yang Bao Unveiled at Donum Estate

The rolling hills of Sonoma County may be better known for producing world-class pinot noir or chardonnay, but between the miles of vineyards that dominate this stretch of Northern California, you’ll also find one of the best private sculpture collections in the world – and it has just unveiled what might be its most impressive artwork yet. In a lavish event held last week, the Donum Estate unveiled the latest work in its 50-plus Donum Collection: HYPERSPACE, a groundbreaking sound sculpture created by multi-media artist Yang Bao.  

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The series of sculptures of 'HYPERSPACE' change in response to wind, temperature and humidity conditions / ©Donum Estate

HYPERSPACE was envisioned to embody Donum’s outlook of creating a holistic sensory wine experience. The series of sculptures seamlessly blend within the natural landscape and surroundings of the Donum Estate, while site-specific music composed by Bao – who is also a classically trained pianist and composer as well as an installation artist – constantly changes in response to the wind, temperature and humidity. 

Central to the installation is the huge golden pyramid, crafted from 24K gold-coated stainless steel. Within the pyramid houses nine smaller steel sculptures that emit ethereal melodies that reverberate across Donum’s vineyards. Nine additional mirror-finish sculptures surround visitors in further fields, creating a spatial soundscape that evolves throughout time and environmental conditions. 

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HYPERSPACE is the latest addition to Donum's 50-plus strong collection of sculptures / ©Donum Estate

"Through this unique sound sculpture, I aim to capture the essence of Donum, evoking its subtle and emotive qualities. Guests can enjoy Donum wine surrounded by ever-changing sounds, carefully designed to create a spatial atmosphere,” Bao shared at the unveiling. “HYPERSPACE encourages visitors to experience the land's beauty with open senses and to appreciate the connection between humans and nature.”

Nine smaller sculptures surround the large central pyramid structure / ©Donum Estate

With HYPERSPACE, Bao joins the ranks of 50-plus other internationally renowned artists with works in The Donum Collection, which since its opening in 2011 has been adding works from the likes of Louise Bourgeois, Zhan Wang and Ai Weiwei to its world-leading sculpture collection. 

“The Donum Estate is a multi-dimensional winery, and ‘HYPERSPACE’ represents a bold step forward inspired by our ethos of sustainability and Yang's past collaboration with The Donum Estate in furthering our convergence of wine, art, nature, and culture,” shares Donum's CEO, Angelica de Vere Mabray. “Celebrating a new era for Donum, ‘HYPERSPACE’ embodies our belief in celebrating not only the craftsmanship of winemaking but also the broader gifts of the land, art, and community.”

thedonumestate/art

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