The Pieces
Philip Van Cauteren, the director of the Ghent Museum once said: “Contemporary artists have to fight for space in an increasingly noisy environment, where they compete with omnipresent media and advertising images, and the impact of vast cities and skyscrapers.” To get a hearing in a society overwhelmed by information and visual stimuli, artists seek to produce images that create a strong impression. The huge scale takes the fanciful alebrijes to an even more magical level. The ultimate goal of those spectacular pieces is to give the public pause for thought and to experience an installation that creates a strong and immediate effect, bringing energy and life to communities and individuals who have felt their lives constrained by the virus. The bright colored animal figures speak to people of all ages. The 20 feet high sculptures are reproductions of original carved wooden works by recognized local artists from various communities.
In spite of their huge dimension a more human size approach will also be offered as the background and meaning of these impressive works will be explained through text (labels) and QR codes to offer additional information to make it interactive on any smart phone (video interviews with the artists, links, etc… ) We notice this essential experience was missing in our France exhibit: Relaying the pieces with the artists, their environment, their original works.
In spite of their huge dimension, a more human-sized approach will be a component. The background, history, and meaning of these impressive works will be explained through text labels and individual QR codes, which offer additional information using any visitor's smartphone. These will include video interviews with the artists, connecting visitors with the artists, their environments in Mexico, and much more.
A new set of pieces is being constructed for this latest tour. These 20-foot monumental Nahuales are made of fiberglass with internal, metallic armature structures that are removable to ease transport and installation (see video making).
Unlike in France in 2019, where we used concrete bases already on site, we will bring individual structure bases for each piece on the tour. Our architects will determine the weight needed to guarantee each piece's stability. Each sculpture weighs about 1,200 pounds; the base is almost 1,000 pounds, plus the 4 counterweight/stabilizing standardized water-ballast containers (1000 liters)each) to be filled on-site, making these stable and safe.
Proper plans, measurements, and calculations will be provided in advance, with time for local permits. Both the tech rider and videos are available.
All pieces are unique, enlarged reproductions of original sculptures. Each is made with an internal metal armature and fiberglass exteriors.
The pieces and their bases are sturdy enough for long-term public display and are all-weather safe.
And the new multicolor LED lighting system makes the entire exhibition even more attractive at night.