Takino Rainbow Nest (Installation view at Takino Suzuran National Park, Hokkaido, Japan)

Toshiko Horiuchi-MacAdam is a textile artist who has been producing interactive netting projects since the 1970s. In the 1990’s, Horiuchi-MacAdam founded Interplay Design and Manufacturing in Newfoundland, Canada with her husband, and continues to produces these huge interactive sculptures through the company.

Hakone Forest Net (Installation View at Hakone Open Air Museum, Hakone, Japan)

Horiuchi-MacAdam’s nets are designed to be responsive to pressure and movement, creating a bouncy, ever-changing terrain for anyone walking on it. Aesthetically, these look almost like gigantic versions of Michael Anthony Simon's spider webs, brightly colored and covering large sections of public park land or indoor space. I would love to be able to walk around on one of these nets – they stand out as an interesting artistic foray into designing what is essentially playground equipment.

I also appreciate that Horiuchi-MacAdam never loses sight of the aesthetics of her projects. Though designing them for strength and functionality may take precedent, the nets are always, first and foremost, beautiful interventions into whatever landscape they are placed in. 

Okinawa B'bob, (installation view in Okinawa Memorial National Park, Okinawa, Japan)