Saraceno at the Blaffer Gallery

Saraceno‘floats’ideafor‘LighterThanAir’environment

Review by TOMÁS SARACENOWASTRAINED as

Andy Coughlan an architect. But a simple concrete and steel structure offers no challenge to this Argentinian artist. He wants to create a world where the environment is literally “Lighter Than Air.” Saraceno’s vision of floating domiciles is on display in the Blaffer Art Museum on the University of Houston campus through Aug. 7.

The exhibition features a variety of balloons held together by a web of fabric and ribbons constructed by the “logic of tension.” Each of the pieces is supported by wires that are attached to the floor, ceiling and walls. Instead of free-standing works, each sculpture is dependent on — and part of — the gallery space.

The act of viewing the work causes one to become part of the installation. One has to carefully maneuvre around between the taut wires, bobbing and weaving in an almost balletic performance.

Saraceno has also installed framed photographs on the floor. In essence, the floor becomes the wall, which challenges our perception of direction. Which way is up?

The pieces attempt to cross the line between art and potential function.

In Saraceno’s large digital mural, “Liverpool/ Flying Garden/Air-Port-City,” he incorporates diagrams of the air flow above the city. On this he has superimposed his own “lighter-than-air vehicles” that have the potential to use the natural environment to move about. He argues that the flying city stimulates a dialogue with the environment.

One notices that the flowing diagramatic “web” of the air currents echoes the webbing that holds his balloon structures together. Saraceno successfully blurs the line between art and science, and by doing so, he forces us to examine what is the essential nature of art. By extension, he questions the idea of what an artist is.

Saraceno’s ongoing “Air-Port-City” project suggests the possibility of a series of “lighter-than-air” balloon pods that can provide sustainable living environments in international air space. Several of the floating sculptures in the exhibition contain plant life. “32SW/Flying Garden/Air-Port-City,” a construction of 32 plastic elliptical spheres, contains Spanish moss, which lives on water and airborne nutrients. This flying garden’s self-sustaining organism offers proof of the viability of the project.

The largest sculpture is a large ball constructed of plastic segments and lightweight solar panels. “Iridescent Planet” can be seen as both a prototype for aliving environment and a work of art. All of the spheres in the exhibition play tricks with the light and with perception. Looking through the panels at the wall-sized mural, the swirling thermal currents are twisted and distorted.

Aseries of photographs of people suspended in giant balloons as if in the clouds, offers a vision of the future. The implication is for a world that has removed the burden of Earth-bound congestion and lifted humanity high into the clouds.

While in Houston, Saraceno visited NASA and he regularly discusses his ideas with scientists to advance his idea of an environmentally friendly alternative to current conditions. Saraceno sees his art as an “open integration of many disciplines.”

As well as scientific principles — the balloons will rise and fall depending on shifts in temperature — Saraceno draws inspiration from the geodesic domes of R. Buckminster Fuller.

Saraceno is a collaborator with a goal. He sees the world as a collaboration between man and nature, neither one dominating over the other. He also sees science and art as collaborative elements, each working together to create a postive future. And, ultimately, nations must collaborate to make Saraceno’s vision a reality.

Until then, Saraceno will continue to push the boundaries of art and science in all directions — and “float” his ideas for a better tomorrow.

The Blaffer Art Museum is located at 120 Fine Arts Building on the University of Houston campus.

For more information, call 713-743-9521 or visit www.class.uh.edu/blaffer.

LIVERPOOL/FLYING GARDEN/AIR-PORT-CITY, top, and 32SW/FLYING GARDEN/AIR-PORT-CITY,above, are part of Tomás Sarceno’s “Lighter Than Air” exhibition at the Blaffer Gallery in Houston through Aug. 7. Courtesy photos

8• ISSUE June 2010

Hot

town, summer

Volume 16, No. 9 in

THESUN’STOOBRIGHTANDTHEYCAN’TLEAVETHE

Commentary by Jeff Dixon (Dixon puts words together onaregular basis. He is also a card-carrying member ofTeam Bullock) WELL, DEARFRIENDS, THE hour is upon us again. Those beads of water dripping down that tall glass are not there for show. It’s become a wasteland out there and the only redeeming quality is an abundance of sandals and toe rings. But that is neither here nor there. Here we are again aiming to beat thatsweltering heat with a myriad of indoor entertainment. So it begins.

GETHIM TO THE GREEK

—Some people may not like RussellBrand. He’s not for everyone. But I challenge you tofindamoment in any trailer forasummer film weirder thanthemoment in this trailer where a half-naked Brand drives down a hallway in a child’selectric car, wearing a crown atop his head, and proclaims with great pride, “I’m a motorist!” We can all learn a lessonfrom this. We must be ourownmotorists. It’s up to us tobethedrunken change in theworld that we want to see.

TOY STORY 3 —Iama giantchild.Last year Disney released a double feature of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3Dand I can honestly say it was the happiest 3 hours and change that I’ve spent in a movie theater in years. Just pure joy spilled out ontothescreen. I literally can't imagine how good this film is going to make me feel. Toy Story movies are like surprise trips to Peter Piper Pizza, except whenyougetthere someone gives you a lightsaber and a cookie in the shape ofadinosaur.

THE A-TEAM —Ilove it when a plancomes together. I also love it whenremakes of old TV shows actuallylook good. The A-Team is somethingIneverthought could work as a major motion picture. It’s more of a serialized tale. But from all the buzz thisseems to work and that’s exciting.Let’s just hope and pray that at some point a fool gets pitied.

KNIGHT AND DAY —Idon’t like Cameron Diaz. I just want to make thatclearupfront. She’s not a good actress. End of story. However, this movie, this movie I am excited about. Tom Cruise is playing a nutcase (not astretch I know) and Diaz is some kindofbumbling idiot (also not a stretch) and yet somehow the energy

Volume 16, No. 9 Geek

City

HOUSE; HERE’SSOMESTUFFTOKEEPTHEMBUSY

of the trailer and the possibility that I could see a version of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” that wasn’t instantly forgettable is justtoo good to be true. I just hope this doesn’t lead to a Cruise-Diaz marriage and their adoption of an entire African baseball team. Maybe I should get that “Team Aniston” shirt out for old time’s sake.

PREDATORS —The third proper sequel in the franchise, this looks to be what “Predator 2” should have been. A group of strangers, each with a history of violence, wake up in a jungle and soon find out that not only are they not on Earth anymore, they’re also being hunted in a giant game preserve. Produced by Robert Rodriguez (“Planet Terror”) and starring Adrien Brody (“King Kong”), this is my sleeper movie of the summer. It’s not getting an overabundance of buzz but I’m fairly certain it’s going to please the crowd it draws and prove itself a worthy sequel.

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE

WORLD —Imagine if Seth Rogen wrote a movie set in the universe of “Street Fighter.” It would probably be a lot like Scott Pilgrim. Based on the comic book by Bryan Lee O’Malley, Scott Pilgrim has to fight and defeat the seven evil ex-boyfriends of his new lady love, Ramona Flowers. I saw the trailer for this and immediately bought the first volume. It truly is one of the best comic series of the last ten years. This is going to be the surprise hit of the summer. Mark my words. It won’t do Iron Man 2 business but it’s going to do better than expected. INCEPTION —How doyoufollow up directing the best comic book movie of all time? You hire Leonardo DiCaprio as your lead and release trailers that don’t give away anything but little snippets of fantastic ideas. The trailers for this remind me of the ads for “The Matrix.” I had no idea what it was about but I knew people were dodgingbullets and that’s really all I needed. All I know about this movie is that it involves placing yourself in someone else’s mind — and that’s the way I intend to keep it.Oh, and also DiCaprio wears some rocking suits in it.

BIONIC BY CHRISTINA

AGUILERA —Popmusic has changed a lot since Aguilera’s last album. With Lady GaGa and Rihanna taking over the Billboard charts is there still room for Christina? With Timbaland and Linda Perry both producing tracks on this record I’d say the smart money’s on that, yes, there is more than enough room for pop to get a little dirrty.

MEMPHIS BLUES BY

CYNDI LAUPER —Idon’t know what Lauper will sound like when paired with B.B. King and Johnny Lang but I will tell you this, I can’t wait to hear it. I love when artists get out of their comfort zones. Even if it’s not an all together solid album (Lil’ Wayne, I’m looking at you) it still has that creative spark and it’s still nice to know people are willing to take chances in the music

See GEEK on page 14

industry.