Floating World, a public art piece, was installed in early July in the Biorenewables Complex on the west side of campus. The piece was created by artist Ralph Helmick who worked with a committee of faculty and staff from the agricultural and biosystems engineering department.
The piece is located in the Sukup Hall and Atrium of the Biorenewables Complex, which is bordered by Elings Hall, Sukup Hall and the Biorenewables Research Laboratory. The artwork consists of 14 steel scrim panels that weigh around 3,000 pounds.
Helmick was inspired by Grant Wood and Japanese woodblock prints called ukiyo-e, which means floating world. The sculpture illustrates the university’s central role in the history of agriculture and reflects its groundbreaking endeavors.