Art and culture
9 m giant inflatable sphere for artist Makiko Furuichi
Digital Inflatables made a giant inflatable sphere, 9 metres in diameter, for the artist Makiko Furuichi in 2025; it was partly printed, then painted by the artist. The work was on show at the Abbaye de Fontevraud until March 2026. Lit at night, it carries a face in yellow, blue and mauve tones and floral motifs. The workshop made it as an artistic partnership, to support the artist’s and the venue’s project.
Contents · 4 sections
What did Digital Inflatables make for Makiko Furuichi?
A giant inflatable sphere 9 metres in diameter, partly printed, then painted by the artist.
In the images, the white sphere carries a face in watercolour tones of yellow, blue and mauve, and yellow, green and red flower motifs. Thin guy lines tie it to the ground.
Lit at dusk, it stands in a courtyard and towers well above the silhouette of visitors walking past.
Who is Makiko Furuichi?
Makiko Furuichi is an artist born in 1987 in Kanazawa, who has lived and worked in France since 2009.
Her work spans watercolour, painting and drawing, as well as installations and large-scale murals.
In 2022 she received the Ackerman + Fontevraud residency.
A similar project? Describe it to our team.
Request a quoteWhere was Makiko Furuichi’s inflatable sphere shown?
At the Abbaye de Fontevraud, in Fontevraud-l’Abbaye, until March 2026.
Founded in 1101 by Robert d’Arbrissel, in the Pays de la Loire region, the abbey shows contemporary artworks across its site.
Normandie Tourisme lists the reinstallation in Vernon of the artist’s inflatable moon, as seen at the Abbaye de Fontevraud, from 18 September to 5 December 2026, as part of SPOT.
How is a custom inflatable sculpture made for an artist?
The workshop turns the artist’s project into an inflatable volume, chooses the fabric and the blower, and the artist can then work on the surface, here with paint.
For a piece shown outdoors for months, anchoring, wind, rain and power supply have to be planned from the start.
The guide to choosing an inflatable structure manufacturer lists the questions to ask before starting an artwork.
Full specifications
| Artist | Makiko Furuichi |
|---|---|
| Object | monumental inflatable sphere |
| Dimensions | 9 metres in diameter |
| Finish | partly printed, then painted by the artist |
| Location | Abbaye de Fontevraud, Fontevraud-l’Abbaye |
| Year | 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
How big is Makiko Furuichi’s inflatable sphere?
It is 9 metres in diameter.
Who painted the inflatable sphere?
Makiko Furuichi: the sphere was partly printed, then painted by the artist.
Where could the Makiko Furuichi sphere be seen?
At the Abbaye de Fontevraud, until March 2026.
Has Makiko Furuichi’s inflatable work been shown elsewhere?
Yes: Normandie Tourisme lists the artist’s inflatable moon, as seen at the Abbaye de Fontevraud, in Vernon from 18 September to 5 December 2026, as part of SPOT.
Can a giant inflatable sphere be shown outdoors?
Yes, if anchoring and power are planned: the Fontevraud sphere was held by thin guy lines in a courtyard.
How long does it take to make a monumental inflatable artwork?
It depends on the size, the print and the samples; the guide to custom inflatable lead times gives benchmarks.
Credit to copy
To credit this project on your website or in an article: the line as plain text, then the same in HTML, ready to paste.
Plain text
Made by Digital Inflatables, https://digital-inflatables.com/magazine/en/projects/giant-inflatable-sphere-makiko-furuichi-fontevraud/
HTML
<a href="https://digital-inflatables.com/magazine/en/projects/giant-inflatable-sphere-makiko-furuichi-fontevraud/">Made by Digital Inflatables</a>Sources
- Digital Inflatables Instagram post instagram.com
- Digital Inflatables Instagram post instagram.com
- fillesducalvaire.com gallery fillesducalvaire.com
- france.fr website france.fr
- normandie-tourisme.fr website en.normandie-tourisme.fr
Drafted with AI assistance from the company’s verified facts, reviewed and approved by Jodoc Elmiger, founder and managing director of Digital Inflatables.
