Artist Statement
Malema’s Podium reinterprets a podium as a sculptural presence rather than a purely functional support. The piece begins with a tapered, triangular volume, then its stainless-steel skin is pressed into fluid, irregular waves that distort any sense of strict geometry.
Reflections sweep across the faces, bending architecture, color and movement into shifting patterns. The top surface remains clean and sharply defined, anchoring the form, while the body beneath behaves like a column of liquid metal. As a result, the podium holds a dual identity: grounded and architectural from one angle, completely dislocated and optical from another.
The work invites close inspection and slow movement around it, letting the viewer experience how a familiar object can become an environment of flowing reflections.
1/1 Installation
Position as a freestanding piece with at least 1 m of circulation space. Soft, diffused lighting (3000–4000 K) highlights the reflective distortions without producing harsh glare. Works well in galleries, performance settings, lobbies and environments where the podium’s reflective skin can interact with the surrounding space and audience movement.
1/2 Relational Works
Best companions within the portfolio:
Mercury Column — vertical reflective shaft with wave patterns
The Wedge — angled geometric form with liquid surfaces
Pedestal I — sculptural support with soft reflective relief
Pedestal II — rectilinear stainless-steel pedestal with fluid distortions
