Living Sculptures were made of discarded tiles from a construction company. Placed on a grid shape with soil between them, different UK wild weed seeds were planted. With a little water and care, they started to grow.
In man-made cities natural life is restricted, but the living organisms rise up to find their way. These pieces showcase what lies underneath the floors we walk on. Soil is full of nutrients and old seeds. To see something growing from them is just a matter of time.
These tiles are commonly used in offices as they can be easily removed to change the electric cables placed underneath them. They are very difficult to recycle and their lifespan is 25 years, when they are replaced by their young sisters. These are just examples of the quantity of trash that is thrown into the landfill everyday; specifically portraying the construction sector waste. Construction and housing sectors represent 38% of carbon emission in the UK. Besides that, around 35 million tonnes of non recyclable waste derived from the construction sector ends up in landfill every year in this country.
LIFE BETWEEN THE TILES.
Living sculpture.
185 x 185 x 3 cm
Tiles, soil, water, seeds.
2020
Vida entre les rajoles,Art Jove (exhibition view), 2020, Casal Solleric, Palma.
The piece has been shown indoors and outdoors during different lengths of time, resulting in different outcomes.
Vida entre les rajoles,Art Jove (detail image), 2020, Casal Solleric, Palma.
Soil, Floor, Soil, Floor was presented in my Graduation Show as the connection point of my area of display; you had to step on the piece to continue through the exhibition.
Asphalt, pavements, floors, shoes — many layers separate us from the natural. Soil, Floor, Soil, Floor showcases the living possibilities that lie underneath the floors we walk on.
Made after Life between the tiles, the grid is lost here, appearing as something more fluid: tiles spreading around and taking the space around them; man-made paths and spaces expanding in all directions.
Although I planted seeds between the tiles, not many plants grew as the exhibition was in December, which I expected and accepted as its nature.
SOIL, FLOOR, SOIL, FLOOR.
Living sculpture.
427 x 366 x 3 cm
Tiles, soil, water.
December 2020
Soil, Floor, Soil, Floor - Art Academy Graduation Show (exhibition view), 2020, Former Newington Library, Palma.
Life between the tiles in conversation with Barbara Weil, Daniel Libeskind and Ramon Llull.
Barbara Weil’s hanging work stands on the top of the piece at the garden of what was her studio-museum, designed for this purpose by Daniel Libeskind.
The architect was inspired by the work of the American artist and the words of the Majorcan writer Ramon Llull for the design of the building.
The piece was exhibited for three and a half months. August-November 2021.
Life Between the Tiles, 12 Voices (exhibition view), 2021, Studio Weil, Andratx.
August.
Life Between the Tiles, 12 Voices (exhibition view), 2021, Studio Weil, Andratx.
November.
Life Between the Tiles, 12 Voices (exhibition view), 2021, Studio Weil, Andratx.