The Space in Between/ Delicadeza visible/Fuerza invisible, 2011. Site-Specific Piece
ECA- Espacio Cultural de Arte. Mendoza, Argentina. 52’x 49’
MATERIALS: Ironed and flattened thousands of found and gifted artificial flowers from China. Glue, wax paper, wood, string, wire, and 4 8’x4’ steel mirror finished metal sections on the floor reflecting the balcony, flowers, cupola, and people looking into their reflection.
Built-in 1888 in a French Neoclassic style, Banco Mendoza was the first bank in the province of Mendoza, Argentina. The monumental building is located in a street corner in the commercial section of the city where other historic buildings surround a historic central plaza. The building, had an institutional character presenting a male based space for activities of power and money transactions. In 1999 the institution was closed after a long history of irregularities, mismanagement, abuses, corruption and ultimately bankruptcy. It was designated by the government as an alternative cultural art space ECA- Espacio Cultural de Arte
I was invited to do a piece responding to space and building which is 52’x 49’ approximately, including a second floor with a balcony that opens to the central space. The building has at the center a stained glass cupula surrounded by smaller stained glass circles.
The Space in Between was composed of hundreds and hundreds of re-appropriated artificial flowers that had been disassembled and flattened using glue between two sheets of wax paper. Once the glue dried, I was able to obtain a light, hard and thin paper sheet made of petals. Based on a kite design, I constructed sections of flowers that were suspended from the two crossed bars in the back. Through thoughtful design that incorporates an abundance of petals floating in space, I have attempted to create a mystifying space where for a short second the beauty of the object contradicts our perception, and guilt and pleasure try to coexist in a globalized world of goods made in China. The building has a large stained-glass cupola that created a beautiful reflection on the steel, as people gazed into the scene.