Urban Oasis: Los Carpinteros in Luminato Festival

Toronto hosts Luminato Festival every year, a multidisciplinary event that gathers acclaimed national and international artists related to theater, dance, movies, music, literature and visual arts in an effort to turn the city into a vivacious center of creativity and celebration. This year the organizers of the Festival, to be held on June 6 – 15, have invited Cuban collective Los Carpinteros so they can take the epicenter of the festival: David Pecaut Square. Therefore, Dagoberto Rodríguez and Marco A. Castillo have conceived a completely new project by taking into account the characteristics of the event: its festive character, its summer sensation, dynamism and positioning. “Cardboard Beach (Playa de cartón)” is the environment created for this event. Umbrellas, sun loungers, breakwater, cabins, even a coastguard station will be invading the square and turning it into an “oasis” right in the heart of the city. This installation is going to offer a different view of the beach each day, since it will be reorganized depending on the concerts and activities to be held there. Each element (totaling 104) has been built with cardboard and offers a homogeneous view of the sculptural work. Some of the watercolor paintings the duo has recently created already show their interest in the visual characteristics of beach furniture and their possible connections with urban networks, Wood Sun Loungers (Tumbonas de Madera IV)” (2012) and “Shadows 3rd (Sombras III)” (2013) are examples of this trend. On the other hand, the aesthetic of “cardboard” has been previously explored by the artists in such large-format installations as “The Neighborhood (El Barrio)” (2007) or smaller pieces like “Podium” (2008), always making emphasis on the temporal and portable character of this material. So this installation represents a sort of synthesis of both explorations. Just like in previous works created by Los Carpinteros, there is an interesting alienation of the functions and nature of spaces. Bringing the beach to the city, the illusion of sand, sea breeze and the movement of waves to the harshness of a public square is like creating a niche of freedom and creativity. But those who use it and enjoy it are aware of the ephemeral character of the experience. Cardboard Beach will be carpeting David Pecaut Square, Toronto, June 6 – 15, as part of Luminato Festival. — Meyken Barreto Source: Cuban Art News