SCAD presents “Aries,” a custom installation created by SCAD alumnus and international artist Jason Hackenwerth (M.F.A., painting, 2011), suspended in the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, the official partner hotel of Art Basel’s Hong Kong show. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

SCAD Hong Kong students assisted the artist with installing the brilliant, kinetic sculpture featuring hundreds of balloons that glow orange, magenta and pink. This is one of many artistic projects that Jason and SCAD have collaborated on to enhance our students’ academic experience.

Known primarily for his colorful, ephemeral pieces with latex balloons, Hackenwerth uses common materials in transformational ways. His sculptures have been featured in The Los Angeles Natural History Museum, The Guggenheim Museum, Art Basel Miami Beach and at SCAD Savannah, Atlanta and Hong Kong locations since 2003. Hackenwerth's transformative work has also been commissioned for SCAD signature events and celebrations as he has risen to prominence in his career.

“Aries” marks Hackenwerth’s return to SCAD Hong Kong after he was commissioned in 2010 to create his “Mega Mites,” wearable sculptures made of interwoven balloons that students paraded through the streets of Asia’s World City.

In 2005, he contributed to the group installation “Elastic Boundaries” at the Red Gallery (now Gutstein Gallery) at the Savannah location, mounting balloon sculptures on vertical walls that deflated over time, transforming the piece and its meaning.

In 2013, he was a featured artist in the contemporary art showcase deFINE ART with “Motus” at the Pei Ling Chan Gallery, in which ultra lightweight plastic created billowing caves that cycled through various stages of expansion and collapse.

Also in 2013, he revealed "Hegemonster," a four-legged, blue-green sculpture standing 18 feet tall and 21 feet in diameter, which emanated from SCAD Atlanta’s terrace above Peachtree Street for one night’s celebration of the School of Building Arts’ recent honors. In 2014, he earned SCAD’s Emerging Alumni Award.

All SCAD students and alumni are advocated by the institution as they forge professional practices and careers in the realm of art and design.