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The Sea Monster of Te Arai

The dragon-like sculpture was realised onsite for the 'Off the Radar' Festival in Te Arai,
New Zealand, January 2014.

The sculpture, mainly built from recycled car parts, reached an overall length of 17 meters;
the main body was built onto two swimming platforms, one for the head and one for the rear
part of the body, followed by a little tale fluke.

For the night performance the sea monster was manually maneuvered over the lake, where it 
spit fire, fortified by different water effects like water jets, water shields, and underwater
eruptions.
The two main platforms were engineered to dive and emerge separately, each based upon three
industrial water tanks. The flooding and emptying of each tank could be controlled individually,
and so the result was quite a vivid performance.

Concept development with Elias Macke and Hannes Jung

Realisation together with Herbz aka Rah Creations /AUS, Babu Fuhrer /CH, Fabi Bodmer /CH,
Muriel Gutherz /CH, Rebell /CH, Elias Macke /D, and Hannes Jung Irl/D.

This project was facilitated thanks to the outstanding support of the Wellsford Towing
and Salvage LTD, as well as Freds Metal Recycling.


Sea Monster, first full test

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ | M.Thommen

Sea Monster, water test

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ | M.Thommen

Sea Monster, sinking

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ | M.Thommen

Show Time

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ | M.Thommen

Emerging Sea Monster

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ | M.Thommen

Sea Monster, emerging

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ

Sea Monster, fully sunken

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ | Herbz

Sea Monster, jets and car lights

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ | Fabi

Rear Body, water reflection

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ | Herbz

Sea Monster, fully lit

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ | M.Thommen

The Lake Dragon

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ | M.Thommen

Finished Dragon Head, on shore

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ | M.Thommen

Finished Rear Body, ready to swimm

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ | M.Thommen

Fire Test, in the workshop

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ | M.Thommen

Monster Dragon, under construction

Off The Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ | M.Thommen