Name/Title
CascodeEntry/Object ID
2024.0002.0001Description
Eto Otitigbe is a multidisciplinary artist interested in recovering buried narratives and giving form to the unseen. His practice includes sculpture, performance, installation, and public art. For Cascode, Otitigbe envisioned a piece that translates hard data into an interactive artwork that’s representative and inclusive of the surrounding West Philadelphia community.
Using a mix of organic forms, natural materials, and data-informed design, Cascode represents the intersection of environment, health, community, and data. It was created with natural stones and metals in earth tones that play well in natural light, paired with LED lighting that lends itself to nighttime activation.
Cascode is located at the northeast corner of 34th and Chestnut Streets and was commissioned as part of Penn Engineering's Amy Gutmann Hall, which opened in 2024 and represents the University's investment in data science: the field of research that analyzes and combines massive quantities of digital information to make otherwise impossible discoveries, models, and predictions.
“I’m excited to apply the patterns found in nature and in numbers to artwork that will endure. Cascode speaks directly to the work being done within the walls of Amy Gutmann Hall: harnessing data science to build equity, ensure collective well-being, and maintain environmental stewardship,” says Otitigbe. “I am so honored to have been selected to create this monumental installation on Penn’s campus.”Type of Sculpture
ReliefArtwork Details
Medium
3D Printed Stainless Steel, Granite, LED Lighting