FEDERICO URIBE's 'plastic' Coral Reef Installation makes Headlines at Venice Biennale
Adelson Gallery Resident Artist, a highlight of 2019 Venice Biennale
If you plan to visit the Venice Biennale this year, make sure you check out Federico Uribe's Coral Reef installation, a highlight of the collateral exhibition, "Personal Structures." The exhibition – which has been coordinated by Adelson Galleries in cooperation with the European Cultural Centre – was officially inaugurated on May 9th in the presence of international art curators, diplomatic delegations and the public. It can be visited every day until November 24th, 2019.
The famed Colombian-American artist who lives in Miami, Florida is acclaimed for his repurposing of unconventional objects and materials, such as bullet shells, colored shoelaces, pins, pencils, electrical wires, ties, and books, to mention a few. Because his sculptures and "paintings" have been exhibited in numerous museums and galleries worldwide, he has developed a loyal, international following.
Inspired by Conservation, Uribe turns trash into stunning installation
""Living in a coastal city has made me very conscious and sensitive about the need to conserve marine environments and ecosystems. Plastic production is increasingly inexorable, particularly in the developing world and it is an indicator of development," said Uribe. According to th World Economics Forum, the world is now producing more than 300 million tons of plastic every year. More than 40 percent is used once, sometimes for less than a minute and discarded. More than 8 million tons of plastic is dumped into our oceans every year and because of plastic's durability, it persists in the environment for centuries.
""Plastic pollution has inspired me to create the Coral Reef installation. My plastic reef installation reflects on the indiscriminate use of plastic, as well as on the ocean plastic pollution worldwide," said Uribe.
The Plastic Reef is enigmatically beautiful, yet its underlying meaning confronts viewers with the harsh reality of oceanic pollution.
From a distance the assemblages appear to be beautiful, colorful underwater worlds. Up close, one can clearly see the thousands of pieces of plastic, which are meticulously cut and arranged. The result is aesthetically pleasing and whimsical, yet contains a powerful and disturbing message.
The installation plays with a juxtaposition between whimsical subject matters – coral reefs and marine landscapes that are full of life – and the potentially destructive medium of plastic. Uribe specifically created the installation for the Biennale, and its message is inherently tied to Venice's geographic location – being a city floating on the sea.
View Slide Show Below
The installation covers floors, walls and ceilings of two rooms in the historic "Palazzo Bembo" in Venice, facing the Grand Canal. Daily plastic objects including bottles, bottle caps, plastic cutlery, flip-flops among others, are delicately weaved in curious and unpredictable ways..
Uribe's leverages the synergies of the Biennale of Venezia to convey his message
With 615,000 international visitors in the last edition, the Biennale offers a unique opportunity to bring momentum to the issue of marine conservation. The idea is to reflect on Nature's pivotal presence, and in the process to give back to Nature what was taken from her. The plastic reef – which bursts with colors and transports the viewer under water into a tropical oasis – confronts the viewer with a vibrant underwater world that reminds us of the fragility of life. The sensorial experience is complemented by a soundscape which has been created by Brazilian multiple Latin Grammy-winning mixer, producer and engineer, Alvaro Alencar.
After the conclusion of the exhibition in November 2019, Adelson Galleries will travel the installation to Palm Beach, FL to be shown at a public institution opening January 2020. Additionally, Uribe plans to liaise with prestigious marine conservation organizations to explore possible forms of cooperation.
For additional information visit www.federicouribe.com and www.adelsoncavalier.com or call (561) 720-2079. The artist and gallery can be reached at info@adelsoncavalier.com
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