Orchid 
Artist Miki Iwasaki was commissioned by the City of San Diego to create a site-specific artwork for Children’s Park in downtown San Diego.
The artist spent several months learning about the site, engaging with the public, and working with the park’s design team to develop his artwork design.
The artwork, titled Petrichor, is a sculptural installation consisting of a three-dimensional, abstract form that ‘floats’ above the ground in a cloud-like shape. The artwork is constructed with steel tubes that form faceted geometric shapes which allow ambient light conditions to vividly interact with the work.
The viewer’s perception of the artwork shifts based on lighting conditions, proximity, and perspective, offering a different experience with the artwork upon each visit. The geometric form alternately appears as a solid object or translucent screen, in addition to creating lively shadow play on adjacent surfaces. The vertical steel supports holding up the cloud-like form direct the viewer’s gaze upward into the artwork. The surrounding groundcover and hardscape is designed as a continuation of the cloud and can be interpreted as landforms or bodies of water.
Lighting illuminates the artwork, creating a strong evening presence. This allows the artwork to be visible from multiple vantage points within and beyond the park boundaries, serving as a symbolic beacon in the park.