Lightning is a symbolic cultural phenomenon with profound sacral meaning, spanning from ancient belief systems—where it was endowed with divine power—to contemporary internet culture.

In the mythologies of different cultures, lightning often symbolized the power of gods: Zeus, Thor, and Perun were all associated with lightning as a weapon and as a sign of anger or justice. These images shaped an archetypal perception of lightning as a boundary between the human world and the realm of higher forces.

In today’s visual landscape, lightning has acquired new meanings—from pop culture to internet subcultures—where storm imagery is associated with nostalgia, loneliness in the modern city, or a sense of dreaminess.

The metal sculptures reflect my interpretation of lightning rods. Lightning rods represent humanity’s attempt to tame natural forces, to direct the energy of lightning in ways that serve human needs. Sometimes this works; sometimes it does not. I was interested less in their functional aspect than in the sculptural form of this architectural element. I was especially drawn to its aggressive structure—like a sharp point piercing the sky.

The sculptures are based on real lightning rods and spires, each reflecting architectural features of three cities where I have lived or spent significant time: Paris, Moscow, and Beijing. Using their forms as a starting point, I transformed them, stripping them of their utilitarian function. Even the material of the sculptures—aluminum, which does not conduct electrical discharge—reinforces this conceptual shift.