Tokamak
osef Kristofoletti’s mural Tokamak, named after a special type of nuclear fusion reactor, is meant to resemble and impress a digital waterline left on the side of a building. In this piece, the artist mixes the artificial and the organic, appropriating rainbow-like bands from chromatography–a process whereby the chemical components of a mixture are revealed through color–in such a way that they recall ribbons of gasoline floating on water.
The mural space is a joint project of Indie Grits, Tapp’s Arts Center and One Columbia for Arts and History. Since April 2015, a mural artist has been selected in conjunction with the Indie Grits Festival and paints a mural within the theme of Indie Grits. This is the third mural that’s been painted in this same location. The wall space was generously donated by Capitol Places who owns the building.
As the artist states, “In an era of drastic climate change, it is imperative that we draw attention to the source of our planet’s environmental ills while simultaneously acknowledging the potential for a cure. In the midst of the devastating, contrary beauty of mass pollution and environmental degradation, the artist identifies a reason for hope, invoking a symbol of human progress and unflagging optimism: the tokamak fusion reactor, referenced in the title for this mural, which offers a solution to our longstanding dependence on fossil fuels.”
- Weight: 0 lbs
- Created: Installed April 2016
- Current Location: Main Street District
- Collections: One Columbia for Arts & Culture