For design and architecture fans, there is also the application designnear, unfortunately only for the iPhone. By using GPS maps with your current location, you can find hundreds of interesting contemporary projects in architecture, landscape architecture and public art.
Leandro Erlich (*1973) was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and now lives and works both in Paris and Buenos Aires. His installations include three-dimensional optical illusions and function like puzzling set designs in which the viewer becomes the actor and Erlich the director. “Erlich challenges the viewer’s habitual idea of reality by creating an unexpected experience from a familiar environment.” (Artes Mundi, 2010) The works do not have the precision of a scientific experiment but the show-like humour encourages you to make light of our cognitial confusion.
I saw “Swimming Pool” at the Kanazawa Contemporary Museum of Art, Japan. If you stand on the edge, it actually looks quite deep – when in fact, there is only 10 cm of water filling the glass-bottomed pool. Below, there is a turquoise-coloured room. Erlich creates the illusion that there are other people underwater – such a clever creation. What I particularly love about Erlich’s works is that they are interactive. You keep your own personal interaction with the work in mind. There is so much wit and trickery in his works which makes them truly memorable.
See more of Erlich’s brilliant works here.
“By their nature, his works, which cannot be transported, bought or sold, exist outside the art market. Each is created for a particular environment. For the Turner piece he was inspired by memories of travelling from Scotland to London to visit the then Tate Gallery on the overnight bus – one night to get to London, a day in the gallery looking at a single work, and a night back.” (Guardian, 2009)
Often awkwardly placed in discreet locations, Wright’s works combine graphic imagery and complex patterning from various sources. I love the symmetry in his works and how they are so ephemeral and fragile. Walking into the room, you are magically drawn towards the bright golden glare. The details begin to reveal themselves as you come closer. You can sense how hard Wright must have worked to create something so awe-inspiring. His works can best be described as “works of incandescent, ethereal beauty.” (Telegraph, 2009)
