Amy MariettaWhen Ananea Resort came to me and asked if I would create two six-foot custom disco manta ray sculptures, suspended twelve feet from the ceiling of their club space in the Maldives, I was instantly excited.
Not just because of the scale or the destination – but because manta rays have always felt deeply poetic to me. Expansive, intelligent, weightless. They move through water with quiet authority, gliding rather than pushing, commanding space without force. Translating that energy into sculptural form felt like the perfect challenge.
Designed specifically for Ananea’s club, these custom disco manta ray sculptures were imagined to hover above the dance floor – where sound, movement, and light meet after dark.
PROJECT : CUSTOM DISCO MANTA RAY SCULPTURES, 2026
Each sculpture spans approximately six feet wide and is designed to be suspended twelve feet overhead, creating the sensation of floating rather than hanging. Positioned above the club floor, the manta rays will become part of the architecture – visible from every angle, yet never overpowering the space.
Rather than functioning as decorative objects, these disco manta ray sculptures were conceived as environmental installations – pieces intended to activate atmosphere, reflect energy, and subtly shift the mood as the night unfolds.
Concept & Design Language
The visual language balances bold sculptural presence with refined restraint.
The manta rays’ silhouettes remain clean, fluid, and architectural, while their mirrored surfaces introduce movement and play. Inspired by interiors and objects that treat light as a material in itself, the sculptures are designed to feel expressive without excess – confident, luminous, and intentional.
Organic form meets precision. Nature meets nightlife.
Light as a Living Element
Mirror is not just a finish – it’s a medium.
As lighting shifts throughout the night, reflections ripple across the room, move with bodies, and respond to the rhythm. The disco manta ray sculptures are designed to collaborate with the space rather than dominate it, amplifying energy without overwhelming it.
No two reflections are the same. No two nights repeat.
Process & Fabrication
Each custom disco manta ray sculpture was created through a highly hands-on, detail-driven process:
- Form Sculpting: The two different manta bodies were shaped to emphasize softness and motion, ensuring they read gracefully from below while maintaining clarity and presence at scale.
- Internal Structure: A concealed internal framework was engineered to support suspension twelve feet from the ceiling while preserving a sense of lightness and lift.
- Mirror Tiling: Thousands of mirrored tiles were individually cut and applied by hand. This intentional process allows light to scatter differently across every curve, creating depth and movement rather than a flat reflective surface.
Ready for the Journey
Both custom disco manta ray sculptures are now complete and carefully prepared for shipment to Ananea Resort in the Maldives. Soon, they’ll begin their journey from the studio to their new home above the club floor – suspended between sea and sound.
I’ll be visiting the Ananea Resort in the Maldives once the sculptures are installed to experience them in their intended environment, where movement, music, and reflection fully activate the work.
This post will be updated with installation photos and videos once they’re in place.
FOR MORE CUSTOM DISCO ART – click here.
A Living Installation
Designed to hover twelve feet overhead, these disco manta ray sculptures are meant to evolve with the energy of the space – reflecting not only light, but presence, mood, and motion.
They are playful yet architectural. Immersive yet restrained. A reminder that art doesn’t need to shout to transform a room – sometimes it simply floats, reflects, and lets the moment unfold.
Installation updates coming soon… for more updates follow on Instagram & Tiktok.