The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf
The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf |
| Posted: 24 May 2011 03:36 AM PDT MARTA Minujin, Argentina's most famous artist, is known for artwork that is both out-sized and outlandish. Her latest creation might also be described as vertigo-inducing: a spiralling, 25m-tall tower meant to pay homage to the written word. In the Plaza San Martin, in the heart of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, Minujin has erected her latest work, The Tower of Babel, that is built from 30,000 books, most of them donations from some 50 embassies. "I don't know why we have to have different languages," she says, adding that she sees her mission as an artist as being here to "unite all people". Unlike the thousands of tomes that form the basis of this current massive sculpture, she says, "art needs no translation". An "enfant terrible" of Argentina's art world who has cavorted during her career with the likes of Andy Warhol and Christo (the French artist who swathed islands and bridges in plastic), Minujin, 68, is a celebrity who has exhibited all over the world. She has been a mainstay of Argentina's avant-garde scene since the 1960s, famous for works that speak to the public's artistic sensibility, while at the same time tickling its funny bone. Referring to The Tower of Babel, "It's really amusing to be able to climb up and down a work of art," says Minujin, graced with emblematic white-blonde hair and ever-present sunglasses. The unveiling last week of the soaring structure is timed to coincide with the Buenos Aires Book fair and the city's role this year as the World Book Capital 2011, a designation conferred by Unesco (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). The artist can scarcely believe that she received funding for her latest work, in which the books are mounted on an enormous metal spiralling scaffold. The books run the gamut from serious works of philosophy and children's fairy tales to everything in between. "The United States donated 1,000 books. Ecuador gave 3,500," says Minujin. She is still exultant as she shows off the enormous sculpture, floor by floor and book by book – a work by Kafka in German, followed by texts in Japanese and in Russian, books of every size and colour. "Look, an anthology of French poetry!" she exclaims, running up the spiralling stairs. Nearby there is another European work – an old issue of Tintin: The Calculus Affair. Like much of her work, she says the Tower Of Babel is meant to be not only imposing, but ephemeral, Minujin says. The entire structure is to be disassembled on May 28. Even when it's gone, however, the tower will have a lasting legacy because, once taken apart, the books will form the basis of the first multilingual library in Buenos Aires. "As of the 28th," says Minujin as she surveys the vista of Buenos Aires from the top of the work, "the people will be able to keep these books." – AFP Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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