In 2018, Haiiileen created the Haiii on Chrome sculpture series, transforming upcycled acrylic from vintage American Apparel shelving into futuristic reflective works. Each piece was hand thermoformed and painted with a chrome finish, creating unique geometries that refract light into rainbow distortions. This series represents both an aesthetic and sustainable exploration of material transformation.
- Title: Haiii on Chrome
- Artist: Haiiileen
- Medium: Upcycled acrylic, hand thermoformed, chrome paint finish
- Duration / Measurements: Variable dimensions (each piece unique)
- Location: Various installations, Miami, FL
Description
Haiii on Chrome (2018) is a sculptural series created through the transformation of upcycled acrylic originally sourced from vintage American Apparel shelving. Each piece was hand thermoformed and painted with a chrome finish, producing fluid, reflective geometries with a crumbling iridescent surface. The works span multiple shapes, colors, and sizes, embodying a futuristic, metallic elegance rooted in sustainable practice.
Conceptual Framework
This series investigates the intersection of material recycling, futurism, and the aesthetics of reflection. The use of upcycled acrylic emphasizes a sustainable approach while introducing an entirely new sculptural vocabulary. The chrome finish refracts light into rainbow-like distortions, aligning with Haiiileen’s synesthetic explorations of color, perception, and transformation. Each piece operates as both individual sculpture and as part of larger immersive installations — shifting between object and environment.
Archival Significance
Haiii on Chrome marks a pivotal moment in Haiiileen’s trajectory: her transition from experimental installations into refined sculptural practice. It is one of her earliest series where sustainability was central to the material process, foreshadowing the later development of projects under Rainbow Oasiiis and Chroma Art Film Festival. The works have been featured across multiple exhibitions and continue to serve as an important bridge between her early synesthetic experiments and her more recent glass and light sculptures.
Archival Metadata
Archival ID: HC-2018-ACR
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