S/WING

Ivan Toth Depeña 
2024

 

Located on a knoll near the renowned Muirfield Village Golf Club, “S/WING” draws

inspiration from the sinuous pattern of a bird’s wings in flight and the striking

similarities to the body mechanics of a golf swing. More specifically, it is inspired by Jack Nicklaus’s iconic swing, as well as the countless swings made since 1974 and those still to come.

The work’s dialogue between avian movement and human dynamics connects

the site’s historical context with its contemporary use. “S/WING” is an abstract

reflection on how birds are regarded as guides and messengers in Shawnee and

Wyandot traditions, as well as in Irish-Celtic lore. Revered as figures that move

between worlds, birds signal intuition, transition, and connection to the natural

environment—symbolism that reflects a long-standing cultural understanding of

flight as both spiritual and ecological. In further connection with the geography

and history of the land as sustenance, the sculpture also fuses green elements

into the overall form, to simulate it seamlessly rising up from the site.

Today, the sculpture celebrates these layered histories while supporting the Dublin Public Arts Program’s mission to strengthen community identity. For residents and visitors, it offers a place for reflection and inspiration, linking the region’s historical roots with its present-day character, including its connection to golf and the recreational life shaped by Muirfield Village Golf Club.