Building the Octopus's Garden

We are building the Octopus's Garden mutant vehicle to challenge and expand the artistic fabrication skills of the OG MV team. We’re creating an immersive art experience that is simultaneously educational and functional, by providing a source of transportation for participants while showcasing the vibrant biodiversity of the ocean's coral reefs and giving an opportunity to view the event from a unique perspective.

 The aquarium will be framed from 1” perforated square aluminum tubing, to maximize sturdiness while minimizing added weight that could impact passenger capacity and energy efficiency.  I designed it to be wide enough to accommodate the full turning radius of the electric golf cart it is mounted on.   Steel flat bar (3’8” x 10” wide) is used to expand the floor from side to side to stabilize paths of passenger movement.  The "glass" walls are blue translucent curtains, which can be parted for passenger entry, suspended between waves of layered coroplast. 

Colors and Highlights

Brilliant colors and neon highlights will make the waves appear more vivid and enticing, while LED lighting on roof and ground effects will be programmed to resemble the hypnotic rippling of water.  A blue dust ruffle is used to fully camouflage the wheels under the aquarium frame while still allowing for safe clearance of uneven ground surfaces.  Recycled pool noodles create a whimsical coral reef for sea life and passengers to nestle among, made in a variety of engaging colors and wired with LED accents to enhance the aquatic environment.  The floors and body of the cart have been converted to the pebbled appearance of the ocean floor, while a slippery watery print on the seat covers adds to the visual and tactile sensations of floating along with the sea life inside the aquarium.  A trusty sea turtle is perched on the steering column to help guide the way.

Lighting

The Octopus's Garden lighting will be done to resemble the bioluminescence of a coral reef in an illuminated aquarium.  Roof and ground lighting all around will be programmed in a hypnotic blue pattern to simulate the rippling waters of the ocean.  Additional LED lights, EL wire and neon accents on the surrounding coral reef will make them pop out in greater detail.  Vivian, the 15.5 ft inflatable octopus will have full internal led lighting to make her glow in stark relief across the entire top for even more radical illumination.

Sound Impact

Ambient ocean sounds and thematic music will be played through a bluetooth sound bar.  Sound will only be operated when stationary in camp or when moving in more removed areas, at a volume to be limited to the passengers and the immediate vicinity (20ft).