October, 2024: The 14-ft.-tall Koilos, created by artist Michael Christian, is plucked straight out of a nightmare. The crouching creature with a head fringed with flames gives the impression of a monster eager to pounce…or nap? “It’s practically a paradox,” Christian says of Koilos. “It wants to jump but also wants to relax at the same time. It wants to contemplate, but also wants to play.” The mysterious intent of the eyeless beast makes it that much more unsettling. Made from 2,000 lbs. of steel, puzzle-like pieces welded into form, Koilos has traveled from the Burning Man festival, to the Distillery District in Toronto, and may soon appear in your dreams.
