Forbes: The Latest Public Art To Light Up South Florida
Nadja Sayej - Contributor Arts
Now, more than ever, is the time for public art. In Coral Gables, Florida, one city-wide project is showcasing the works of 15 artists and runs until March 13. It's called Illuminate Coral Gables and is south Florida's first public art and light installation.
The artworks bring video projections, light installations, sculptures and even handmade, lit up Chinese silk lanterns to south Florida, and is what the chief curator Lance M. Fung says is “an amazing group of artists bringing relevant, thought-provoking and meaningful art to the general public.”
Among the works on view, Kiki Smith’s piece Blue Night depicts 42 constellation animals, suspended from above. From goats to scorpions and fish, each piece is created on a transparent blue background, with holographic vinyl, and Smith was inspired by the constellation drawings from the late 17th century by Johannes Hevelius, among others.
“In ancient times it was believed that the sky was somewhere between heaven and earth,” said Smith. “It’s great to be able to present light, hope, and joy for so many to experience.”
Among the other artworks on view across the city, there is a light projection by Miami-based Cuban artist Carlos Estévez, which is projected onto the walls of City Hall. The ever-changing animated piece is called “Urban Universes.” “It consists of the animation of various passers-by or characters that I portray in my paintings,” writes Estévez on Instagram. “This work pays homage to the City of Coral Gables and its inhabitants.”
Another work on view is by Saint Martin-born artist David Gumbs, who has created two works, among them, one called “Echoes of Souls,” which is projected on the side of the Ocean Bank building. It depicts patterns of computer-generated animations that are triggered in real-time by local pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
Also on view is a magical piece by Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang. “Fireflies” is a public artwork on wheels that meanders through downtown Coral Gables, adding a splash of color and with handmade Chinese silk lanterns on bicycles.
The artist says it “lights up the night in Coral Gables with a childlike sense of wonder.”
The lanterns were handcrafted in the artist’s hometown of Quanzhou, China. The bright, twinkling lights evoke the artist’s own childhood memories, the artist writes on Instagram. And among the laterns, there are star-shaped lanterns, as well as ones based on the designs of emojis (pandas, roosters and tigers), UFOs, cars, trains, boats, and rocket ships, not to mention hamburgers, sushi and donuts.
Published on www.forbes.com.