On Monday night, Golden Gate Park transformed into a mystical playground as the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department unveiled a new nocturnal marvel: the 'Naga' art installation. This colossal sea serpent, touted to be a public art powerhouse, illuminated the park's Rainbow Falls with radiant hues and silhouettes, painting the car-free JFK Promenade with an otherworldly glow.
According to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announcement, Naga stands a commanding 25 feet high and stoically stretches more than 100 feet along the base of Rainbow Falls, and it's crafted from a metal framework that houses five luminescent segments, complete with scales that pulse in a spectrum of rainbow lights at night, and even exhale gentle bubbles from its snout, adding a layer of animation to the already captivating visual spectacle, Naga, designed by Cjay Roughgarden, Stephanie Shipman, and Jacquelyn Scott, ushers visitors of all ages into a magical realm, alight with color and fantasy.
“The JFK Promenade is already a vibrant place where art, activity, and relaxation come together. Naga builds on that energy, drawing visitors into a vivid world of light, color, and motion—like stepping into a modern fairytale,” Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park General Manager, described the impact of the installation, as part of a statement obtained by the department's announcement.
Naga's inception originated from Burning Man 2024, with its Golden Gate Park appearance signifying its most ambitious installation yet; it's an artful behemoth expected to catch the eyes of the park's annual trove of 24 million visitors, therefore, founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Illuminate, Ben Davis, spotlighted San Francisco's unique charm by adding, “With Naga, we’re creating a moment of shared wonder—something unexpected, delightful, and free to all,” he expressed in remarks echoed in a news from the department.
The Sijbrandij Foundation's involvement in bringing Naga to life aligns with its mission to foster accessible and joyful public experiences. Sid Sijbrandij, Founder of the foundation, shared his enthusiasm: “It’s inspiring to see such an imaginative installation take root in the heart of Golden Gate Park, where it can be experienced by millions,” as noted in the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department news. And as for the lead artist Cjay Roughgarden, Naga is a dream turned reality, made possible by the collective effort of creators, city officials, and believers—a sentiment he shared in an announcement.
The second half of the installation, Naga & The Captainess, featuring a sculptural shipwreck, is set to complement the sea serpent later this year, with the addition of lantern-lit seating to foster an environment for community gatherings and storytelling, as detailed in the social media post.
