Song of Ascent: a New Sculpture at Technion

At the opening session of the 2016 Board of Governors, it was revealed that a new sculpture designed by Dani Karavan will be installed at the Technion. The sculpture, Shir Hamaalot (Song of Ascent) is a stainless steel spiral, 18 meters high, designed by Karavan especially for the Technion.  It will stand in the square adjacent to the new student dorms which are currently under construction on campus.

Model of the new statue to grace Technion: Song of Ascent by Dani Karavan

Karavan, who received an honorary doctorate from the Technion in 2009, explains that he decided on the spiral shape of the sculpture “because of the shape and also because of what it symbolizes. In the heart of the spiral, I placed four “ladders” made of blue neon lines that come together to form a sort of scaffold. I am examining the possibility of having the light rise through them up to the top, over and over again. In addition, four laser beams will emerge upwards from the ends of the ladders.”

Under Karavan’s guidance, students from the Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning at the Technion made a model of the sculpture, especially for today’s opening events of the 2016 Board of Governors. The model is on display in the Taub Faculty of Computer Science building.

Prof. Gabriel Goldschmidt from the Technion Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning said: “This work is unique in Karavan’s body of work, since most of his works are environmental and are not considered sculptures. It is a great privilege for the Technion to have a work by one of the most important artists working in Israel today on its campus.”