R-Evolution

BY Marco cochrane b. 1962, Italy

Steel rods, tubing & stainless steel mesh

‘R-Evolution’ is a 45-foot tall sculpture that symbolizes feminine strength and liberation, featuring 16 motors in her chest to simulate breathing and demonstrate how her energy radiates into the world by involuntary forces.

Using a Pantograph – a medieval-era enlargement tool – the sculpture was built by hand by Cochrane using classical sculpting techniques starting with a life-size original, enlarged first to 15 foot clay version, and then to her final metal form. The completed 45-foot sculpture is made of steel rod and tubing, utilizing two layers of geodesic triangles (necessitating 55,000 welds) covered by a stainless steel mesh.

‘R-Evolution’ is the third and final sculpture in Cochrane’s “The Bliss Project” series, intended to catalyze social change by challenging bystanders to see past the sexual charge surrounding the female body. To actualize the series, Cochrane worked with singer, songwriter, dancer, model, humanitarian and farmer Deja Solis as a collaborator and model and called upon hundreds of volunteers to take part in the creation.

R-EVOLUTION AT EMBARCADERO PLAZA

A striking new addition to the city’s public art landscape, R-Evolution, a 45-foot-tall illuminated sculpture by renowned artist Marco Cochrane, will debut in Embarcadero Plaza on Thursday, April 10, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Originally unveiled at Burning Man, this monumental artwork embodies strength, resilience, and the power of representation. By placing R-Evolution in Embarcadero Plaza, the city continues its tradition of championing public art as a force for dialogue, civic engagement, and cultural revitalization—especially in a time when public spaces are being redefined.

Embarcadero Plaza was selected for its cultural and historical significance as a gateway to San Francisco. Positioned in front of the iconic Ferry Building and along Market Street, a major artery of the city, the location serves as both a vibrant meeting point and a space deeply connected to the city’s artistic and economic pulse. R-Evolution stands as a powerful symbol of empowerment and transformation, reinforcing San Francisco’s progressive spirit while activating a highly visible public space with a presence that is both bold and introspective.

With its daily breathing motion and illuminated presence at night, R-Evolution offers a dynamic, interactive experience that invites people to return, reflect, and engage. The installation is designed to draw visitors and increase foot traffic to the already thriving creative hub where local artists regularly sell their work—ensuring that this artwork not only inspires but also supports San Francisco’s artistic community

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Marco Cochrane was born to American artists in Venice, Italy in 1962 and raised in Northern California in the midst of the political and cultural movement of those times. As a result, Marco learned respect for oneness, balance and the imperative to make the world a better place. In particular, he identified with the female struggle with oppression and saw feminine energy and power as critical to the world’s balance. In his 20s, on a dare, he explored sculpting and discovered both his ability to capture human emotion and energy and the power of art to amplify.

Self-taught, for more than 20 years Marco sculpted in clay and cast in bronze, primarily women who chose their own poses, their own expressions. In 2007 he attended the Burning Man Festival and was inspired to take his art and his message in a new direction, he just did not yet know how. In 2009 he returned, and it was then he realized how he could enlarge his sculptures to monumental proportions while maintaining their integrity, thus magnifying their impact.

Marco believes that the time we have to solve the problems that threaten our existence on this planet is running out, and that the key to finding real lasting solutions is bringing feminine energy into balance with male energy: a global shift, already underway.