Vineyard music sculpture strikes right note

California’s Donum Estate has opened a stunning sound sculpture among its vines.
The installation, called Hyperspace, was designed and created by Yang Bao, a New York-based artist, pianist and composer. It’s like a giant wind organ encased in a golden pyramid.




Hyperspace, unveiled on July 10, is the latest addition to the Donum Collection, one of the largest accessible private sculpture collections in the world, and embodies the Sonoma estate’s vision of creating a holistic sensory wine experience. The expansive, site-specific, sound and art complex (above) was designed to blend with the natural environment and to constantly chime with its surroundings. The sculptures reflect the seasonal landscape, while its soundscape “evolves with the wind, temperature, and humidity”. The video below gives a flavour of the music coming from it.



The reflective surface of the structures and their placement in relation to one another create music that mirrors the changing natural environment.
“Through this unique sound sculpture, I aim to capture the essence of Donum evoking its subtle and emotive qualities. Guests can enjoy Donum wine surrounded by ever-changing sounds, carefully designed to create a spatial atmosphere,” Yang says. “Hyperspace encourages visitors to experience the land's beauty with open senses and to appreciate the connection between humans and nature.”




Central to the sound sculpture complex is a golden pyramid crafted from 24k gold-coated stainless steel. Within the pyramid, the wind organ comprises nine mirror-finish stainless-steel sculptures which emit ethereal melodies that reverberate through the vineyards. Symbolising infinity and eternity, the number nine holds significance in ancient cultures and plays a central role in the composition of Hyperspace.
In the surrounding fields, there are nine additional mirror-finish stainless-steel sculptures (like those below).



“The Donum Estate is a multi-dimensional winery, and Hyperspace represents a bold step forward inspired by our ethos of sustainability and Yang’s past collaboration with the Donum Estate in furthering our convergence of wine, art, nature and culture,” shares Angelica de Vere Mabray, CEO of Donum. “Celebrating a new era for Donum, Hyperspace embodies our belief in celebrating not only the craftsmanship of winemaking but also the broader gifts of the land, art, and community.”
Yang Bao previously collaborated with the Donum Estate in 2022, when he was commissioned to compose music for the launch of ‘Vertical Panorama Pavilion’ by Studio Other Spaces. During this event, Yang premiered his album ‘Hyperdrive’, a composition inspired by his fascination with echoes and the unpredictable nature of sound, serving as an ode to the ever-changing world beyond human control.
Following the Pavilion launch, Yang began designing Hyperspace with production commencing in 2023 in collaboration with Wa Liu, a multimedia artist known for exploring the interconnectedness between humans and nature.



Since 2011, Donum has been placing large-scale sculptures throughout its Carneros estate. These include Ai Weiwei’s ‘Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads’, Keith Haring’s ‘King and Queen’, Zhan Wang’s ‘Artificial Rock’, Yue Minjun’s ‘Terracotta Warriors’, Jaume Plensa’s ‘Sanna’ and Subodh Gupta’s ‘Soma’.
The musical composition played by Hyperspace will also be accessible on streaming platforms.

The Sonoma-based estate specialises in single-vineyard, single-appellation Pinot Noir and Chardonnay using regenerative organic farming practices.