The Haas Brothers, Gorillas in the Mist

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The Haas Brothers

Gorillas in the Mist is simultaneously a whimsical art installation, playground, and fountain designed by the Haas Brothers and produced in collaboration with Factum Arte. Known for sculptures that dim the lines between art and design, works by twins Nikolai and Simon Haas are included in major collections, including New York’s Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Rhode Island School of Design.
Conceived specifically for Aventura Mall, Gorillas in the Mist features three large-scale bronze gorillas, four bronze trees and five hand-hewn marble benches. The gorillas–named Djuna, Jasper, and Devendra–are playful primates whose smiling and endearing countenances invite hands-on exploration. Spouting water cascading in sparkling arches adds to the magical and interactive nature of this evocative public work.
Providing context to the commission, the brothers noted: “Gorillas in the Mist is a portrait of the people we most care about. Less specifically in terms of actual people, but more of the roles that certain people can play: a partner, a good friend and a child. It's a fountain and a playground, built specifically with children in mind.”