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Eight-Story, Hippo-Filled Installation from Dedo Vabo Star of Coachella

At Coachella, the action contained within an 80-foot-tall wooden rocket towering over the festival became a star of this year’s visual artist line-up. Duo Dedo Vabo created "H.i.P.O.," in which performers dressed as hippos clanged and banged away at projects in a 12-hour, uninterrupted performance. This installation took a year to conceive and complete, with "202 designers, costumers, set decorators, stage managers, riggers, and performers" involved. (Press images captured by Marshall Vanderhoof.)

At Coachella, the action contained within an 80-foot-tall wooden rocket towering over the festival became a star of this year’s visual artist line-up. Duo Dedo Vabo created “H.i.P.O.,” in which performers dressed as hippos clanged and banged away at projects in a 12-hour, uninterrupted performance. This installation took a year to conceive and complete, with “202 designers, costumers, set decorators, stage managers, riggers, and performers” involved. (Press images captured by Marshall Vanderhoof.)

More from the group: “The 8-story rocket, launch tower and surrounding platform acts as a medley of different artistic mediums, all mashed together into a massive performance art installation that defies explanation. Inside, performers dressed as lifelike hippopotamuses, bang on rocket parts, build warheads and conduct experiments.”

See more from the duo below.

Behind-the-scenes video:

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