12th of March 2010
Found Objects for Lost Souls
by: Sophie Balbo | 13 June 2008printed in: Edition 39 | section: Art
Objetos Encontrados is a place for people who’ve lost something but they don’t quite know what. They won’t find their missing wallet or keys, but rather a fresh way to look at life and the city, as the seven artists who work for the gallery all give new life to old objects, recycling things they encounter in a very amusing and sensitive way.
A rusty bicycle hanging on the wall on its way up to heaven, a piece of wood changed into a space-ship, a plug turned into a face: every object gets to live another life and acquires a new vocation within the walls of the gallery. An old version of the famous ‘Guía T’ triumphantly sits between a retro Donald Duck plastic ornament and a vintage paper-back titled ‘Si me amas te mato’ (If you love me I’ll kill you), which looks as if it’s been read quite a few times. The pieces seem to either glorify or make fun of the society in which we live.
The name of the place – which is the Argentine version of ‘lost and found objects’, but also means ‘encountered objects’ – can be perceived as an excuse to expose just any old object and call it art. But the majority of the pieces that have been worked on, as well as the philosophy behind the gallery, make it worth the detour.
“What is important to see in every item is the word ‘encounter’ that animates us all,” says Luis Fernández, 47, who opened the place four years ago. “We don’t only find things in order to make new objects, we also create pieces to share our visions with one another and with the people who visit our gallery. Everybody is welcome to look at our work, sit down, have a cup of tea and chat.”
Before any commercial interest, he insists, the way visitors perceive their work is essential. Which is why Luis has hung up a quote to warn the hosts: “All things are only what one perceives them to be.”
Of wood and plastic
The seven young artists, who call themselves ‘the seven mad men’, meet up in this tiny place entirely made out of wood by co-founder architect Guillermina Luz Sanchez, and share their recycling experiences. They each use different materials. Luis, who likes to think of himself as an eternal apprentice, works with bois flotté, pieces of driftwood he turns into works of art: “I love to walk on beaches, pick up sticks, play and build sculptures with them.”
In the same playful way, Rusti Deimos, the ‘space cherub’, makes robots from colourful and useless pieces of plastic he finds. “It’s an investigative process,” he states. “It’s a means of expressing myself with which I feel free. I only started making these a year ago, and I realise they are slowly changing.” Using plugs for the heads makes one wonder what his next move will be.
Of life and sickness
Two of the partners are photographers. Hernan Reig’s work is one of the gallery’s strongest attractions. Inspired by French artist Henri Michaux’s perception of landscape, he has replaced pills by small photos in old pill capsules. Instead of a painkiller, you’ll find a smile, a cat with its tail up or a multitude of objects reflecting life and the world. Taken in black and white, the pictures are emphasised by the silver frames.
“Pill capsules refer to many things like illness and the pharmaceutical industry,” says the 37-year-old artist. Hernan confesses to enjoying twisting the symbols around by inserting life where the tablets were, which at the same time underlines life’s vulnerability.
“We think about the different ways of using our pictures, like the others do with the objects,” adds photographer Sophie Spandonis who takes mini-pictures of the city in various unusual angles, like one of an angel showing her bum in Recoleta Cemetery. “That’s why I decided to re-think the usual formats. I find it amusing to be able to fit a few pictures in my pocket and show them to my friends at any time. It’s my own personal way to desecrate art photos.”
After arriving from France a few months ago, she also decided to create a series of old fashion-looking postcards called ‘Objetos porteños’. The pictures illustrate typical things you find in Buenos Aires, such as a soda-water bottle or an old poster of tango singer Carlos Gardel hung up with pegs.
Other worlds are possible
If you are looking for a room with a view, French illustrator Ange Potier, who designed the website, will at least provide the view. His 3D paintings, sold in small boxes, can transport you from Paris to Buenos Aires, providing anything from rooftops to a glimpse of a woman’s bare hip in a tiled bathroom. Visitors will also encounter paintings by Gustavo di Pompo, who is the multidisciplinary one of the team, as he also takes pictures and plays music.
“At the end of the day, the gallery reflects the story of our friendship,” adds Luis. “I started the adventure with Guillermina, and more and more artists have joined us, which makes me happy, as it’s a chance for them to show their work to the public.”
A glance at the visitors’ book will immediately make it clear that Objetos Encontrados has inspired more than one passer-by, as some have made drawings and others have written poetry. “Encountered objects, encountered artists, encountered visitors: we are all professional ‘encounters’,” concludes Hernán grinning. “Every one of us lives in its own world, and every encounter reminds us of the surreal possibility of another world.”
Objetos Encontrados can be found on Thames 1721, Palermo Monday to Saturday from 12-8pm. www.objetos-encontrados.com The prices of the art pieces vary form $20 to $500
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