Ag art at Art Wynwood in Miami
February 17, 2015 |10:47 AM
MIAMI, Fla. — Agriculture and food have been favorite subjects of artists for centuries. At the Art Wynwood show here over the Presidents Day weekend, ag-inspired paintings, sculpture and other works were among the most prominent on exhibit.
Works of art about agriculture play a role beyond recording and depicting the agricultural process. In recent decades, these works have included commentary on the role of food and the advertising of food in modern society.
The Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences, which has had an Art about Agriculture program since 1983, says on its website that encouraging artists “to investigate the visual resources of the science and practice that sustains human life: agriculture” can help “develop an understanding and appreciation of food and fiber production, especially among people not traditionally acquainted with agriculture.”
Art is, of course, not without controversy, and some of the works exhibited are bound to be offensive to some people — especially since Art Wynwood provided an opportunity for 70 international galleries to present in midtown Miami what the organizers called “emerging, cutting edge, contemporary and modern works … [with their] own distinct identity and design. A unique feature is the highlight of street art, murals, pop surrealism and other genres from the contemporary underground movement.”
Below are photos and information on some of the most remarkable exhibits of agriculture and food.
“Lollipop Collection” and “Soda Collection” — These works are by Maximiliano Pecce, an Argentine artist. $2,800 each.
The cow and the horse — These bronzes are by the late Carlos Mata, a Spanish sculptor who was born in Palma de Mallorca. According to his biography on the site of Galerie Frédéric Got, Mata “let himself be absorbed by the ground and landscape of his childhood” on the island of Mallorca. $26,000 to $28,000.
“Hot Dog” and “Pepsi” — These collages and acrylic on wood are by French artist Charles Langelier, who goes by the name Joseph. He trained to be an architect but shifted to art. According to his biography by the Galerie K+Y, Joseph believes that “art sometimes deserves not to be taken seriously. That is why Joseph gathers raw materials for his art in economic brands, vintage French commercials and cartoon characters. … His art is solely about ‘Pop.’ It also provides a deep view of our consumerist society and its impact on our daily lives.” $7,300 for “Hot Dog” and $3,050 for “Pepsi.”
Red Peppers — These oils on canvas are described as “metaphors of memory” by Juan Carlos Rivero-Cintra, a Cuban-born artist who lives in Colombia. According to a description posted next to his work, Colombia’s history of violence and land loss has led him to focus on the issue of “displacement.”
In his work, “Disproportionately large bananas, peppers and watermelons become a means of transportation for a single person in his series entitled ‘Metaphors of Memory.’ Rivero-Cintra creates a strong juxtaposition by uniting hyperrealist fruits and vegetables with impossibly sized human figures, questioning our own perceptions of reality and memory. …Through his poetic expressions, Rivero-Cintra creates situations that bring together the real and the impossible, inviting the viewer to reflect upon the power of a mental displacement.”
Price unknown.
“Chiquita Banana” — A polychromate resin statue made by Mel Ramos, a California artist, in 2007. According to Art Directory, Ramos studied at Sacramento State College, “where his teacher Wayne Thiebaud has decisive influence on him. ... His art is critical and an ironic reaction to the clichés conveyed by advertising in the media.” The work is offered by the Galerie Ernst Hilger in Vienna. $360,000.
▪ Art Wynwood
▪ Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences — Art About Agriculture
Works of art about agriculture play a role beyond recording and depicting the agricultural process. In recent decades, these works have included commentary on the role of food and the advertising of food in modern society.
The Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences, which has had an Art about Agriculture program since 1983, says on its website that encouraging artists “to investigate the visual resources of the science and practice that sustains human life: agriculture” can help “develop an understanding and appreciation of food and fiber production, especially among people not traditionally acquainted with agriculture.”
Art is, of course, not without controversy, and some of the works exhibited are bound to be offensive to some people — especially since Art Wynwood provided an opportunity for 70 international galleries to present in midtown Miami what the organizers called “emerging, cutting edge, contemporary and modern works … [with their] own distinct identity and design. A unique feature is the highlight of street art, murals, pop surrealism and other genres from the contemporary underground movement.”
Below are photos and information on some of the most remarkable exhibits of agriculture and food.
“Lollipop Collection” and “Soda Collection” — These works are by Maximiliano Pecce, an Argentine artist. $2,800 each.
The cow and the horse — These bronzes are by the late Carlos Mata, a Spanish sculptor who was born in Palma de Mallorca. According to his biography on the site of Galerie Frédéric Got, Mata “let himself be absorbed by the ground and landscape of his childhood” on the island of Mallorca. $26,000 to $28,000.
“Hot Dog” and “Pepsi” — These collages and acrylic on wood are by French artist Charles Langelier, who goes by the name Joseph. He trained to be an architect but shifted to art. According to his biography by the Galerie K+Y, Joseph believes that “art sometimes deserves not to be taken seriously. That is why Joseph gathers raw materials for his art in economic brands, vintage French commercials and cartoon characters. … His art is solely about ‘Pop.’ It also provides a deep view of our consumerist society and its impact on our daily lives.” $7,300 for “Hot Dog” and $3,050 for “Pepsi.”
Red Peppers — These oils on canvas are described as “metaphors of memory” by Juan Carlos Rivero-Cintra, a Cuban-born artist who lives in Colombia. According to a description posted next to his work, Colombia’s history of violence and land loss has led him to focus on the issue of “displacement.”
In his work, “Disproportionately large bananas, peppers and watermelons become a means of transportation for a single person in his series entitled ‘Metaphors of Memory.’ Rivero-Cintra creates a strong juxtaposition by uniting hyperrealist fruits and vegetables with impossibly sized human figures, questioning our own perceptions of reality and memory. …Through his poetic expressions, Rivero-Cintra creates situations that bring together the real and the impossible, inviting the viewer to reflect upon the power of a mental displacement.”
Price unknown.
“Chiquita Banana” — A polychromate resin statue made by Mel Ramos, a California artist, in 2007. According to Art Directory, Ramos studied at Sacramento State College, “where his teacher Wayne Thiebaud has decisive influence on him. ... His art is critical and an ironic reaction to the clichés conveyed by advertising in the media.” The work is offered by the Galerie Ernst Hilger in Vienna. $360,000.
▪ Art Wynwood
▪ Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences — Art About Agriculture
