Art exhibition in Boston: Firelei Báez

[asakiyume]

Magically, I'm able to read this New York Times article by Siddhartha Mitter about this simply gorgeous exhibition by Firelei (beautiful name) Báez.

The tagline for the article says, "History meets flamboyant fantasy in the work of Firelei Báez, whose installation on the waterfront reasserts the importance of the Caribbean in world history."

It's at the Watershed, an exhibition hall in East Boston run by the Institute of Contemporary Art. I'd like to see it. sovay, I thought of you instantly, and you too minoanmiss


In a monumental sculpture, the artist Firelei Báez reimagines the archaeological ruins of the Sans-Souci Palace in Haiti. The architecture of lurching walls and archways surges from the “seafloor” of the ICA Watershed. Firelei Báez and James Cohan; Chuck Choi

In many of her paintings, for instance, she reproduces old maps that chart commerce and development from the perspective of the victors, then paints onto them flamboyant tropical colors and fantastical figures — notably ciguapas, forest creatures in Dominican folklore who roam with ambiguous intent.

Her sculptural installations, too, are rooted in history yet unfold as poetry ...

Past the mural rises the sculptural component: an architecture of tilted walls and archways, as if surging indigo-hued from the seafloor, studded with barnacles. A perforated canopy covers the space, like ocean’s surface, or the night sky.

The installation refers to Sans-Souci, a once-majestic palace in Haiti that marks a time of possibility but also sadness in Caribbean history. It was built in 1813 by Henri Christophe, the former slave who became a revolutionary general, then crowned himself king. His reign was turbulent, ending by suicide in 1820; the palace was devastated by an earthquake in 1842.

“The vision is that it’s emerging from the Atlantic,” Báez said of her construction. “It’s something that is breaking through this watershed and looking outside the marina at how things built up.”

"Báez building Sans Souci, a ruined palace emerging from the Atlantic. Photo: Amani Willett for The New York Times"


“Thinking of centuries of development that have happened here,” the artist said. “What was given and what was taken?” Photo: Amani Willett for The New York Times

More amazing photos and much more discussion at the link at the top of the post.

Comments

[cmcmck]

The sculpture reminds me of the Neolithic underground tombs on Orkney.

[asakiyume]

Ooooh, that's lovely. I like the thin vertical slates, like shutters.

[pilottttt]

This is an impressive thing

[asakiyume]

I agree! I'm going to try to go see it.

[sovay]

sovay, I thought of you instantly, and you too minoanmiss

Yes. Thank you. And it's at the ICA. Hmmm.

[asakiyume]

I really hope I get there too (... I mean ... it's in my control. I just have to DO it.)

[minoanmiss]

oh my wow thank you!

[asakiyume]

🙂🙂🙂

Happy to share!

[sonia]

Wow, that's amazing! Gorgeous art, profound meanings, and such confidence as a creator. I wonder if those are staged photos, or if she really dresses that nicely to work with paint. No criticism intended either way. Thanks for sharing! I would definitely go see that if I were within hailing distance.

[sartorias]

Those shades of blue!

[asakiyume]

That's such an interesting point--I hadn't thought! You're observant ^_^

If I do go, I will report back.

[asakiyume]

I KNOW--gorgeous

[anna_wing]

How extraordinarily beautiful!

And you're right her name is gorgeous too.

[cmcmck]

Simple clothes that you could chuck in the machine afterwards I suppose! :o)

[amaebi]

Thank you!

[asakiyume]

My pleasure! If I actually go, I'll take pictures (if it's allowed)

[asakiyume]

Very glad you enjoyed!

[asakiyume]

*nodding*--that's a possibility

[amaebi]

Oooooh!

[amaebi]

*beam*

[wayfaringwordhack]

That is lovely, and I love Firelei's (YES! to that name. :D) inspirations and motivations behind the exhibition. Since I think you are going to make there in person, I can't wait to see your own takes on it.

I don't know about Henri Christophe's history, but obviously from the snippet above, his palace was ill-named and he was not without worry. :(

[westerling]

Thanks for sharing this! I would like to immerse myself in this blue. Maybe I can figure out a time to go.

[pjthompson]

Lovely!

[asakiyume]

Yeah, re: Henri Christophe's story... it feels Greek-tragedy like.

[asakiyume]

Hurray! That would be great.

[asakiyume]

Yay--I'm glad you think so too!

[pjthompson]

I'm a sculpture wonk and I love installations. This seems like a particularly good one.

[genarti]

Oh, that looks SO cool!!!

[asakiyume]

Right?! Love her vision.