MIDTOWN MIAMI, FL - Graffiti Gone Global (GGG), powered by SUSHISAMBA, announces its fifth consecutive exhibition of contemporary art and design during Art Basel Miami Beach. The art collector of Art Kabinett network will want to visit this exhibition while visiting the big art fair.
At the center of GGG 2011, are three acclaimed artists whose respective focuses on architecture, design and industrial street art speak to the brand’s rapidly evolving nature. The work of Marc Fornes, Volkan Alkanoglu, and Billi Kid will transform the ‘Rotunda’ - a 10,000-square-foot cornerstone of Midtown Miami - into a playground of interactive elements, replete with a Pop-Up Shop with artful objects and merchandise for sale.
Headlining GGG’s program is famed French architect Marc Fornes. During the show, Fornes will reveal his largest installation to date, Labrys Frisae, a non-linear structure spanning 30 feet on each side and towering 16 feet above the floor.
Composed of more than 80 nodes, 12,000 unique parts and 100,000 connectors, the installation process took months to complete as Fornes seamlessly transformed mathematical cryptogram into a tangible art structure.
The design of Labrys Frisae allows visitors to obtain a greater understanding of the installation through three entryways leading them inside the piece. The viewers will be able to observe Fornes’ monumental structure from multiple unique perspectives - a visually intriguing experience enhanced by music and dramatic lighting.
Alongside Fornes, Volkan Alkanoglu – a trailblazer in sustainable architecture and design – will unveil Public Figure. As a LEED Accredited Professional (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), Alkanoglu selects low-impact materials for his work, producing designs that enhance their immediate environment. “GGG goes beyond celebrating urban contemporary design.
It promotes a cultural agenda through art,” said Alkanoglu. “As a trained architect I am part of a practice that encompasses both the build environment and methods of artistic representation.”
Alkanoglu’s Public Figure speaks to his mastery of design and sustainable art. A geometric bench-like structure composed of opaque, high-density polyethylene, the piece is multifunctional, measuring 10 feet long and 18 inches high.
He describes the project as an “urban device” that symbolizes social interaction through its two, infinite loops that are in “constant dialogue.” The design is physically accessible to viewers, encouraging them to interact both with the design and each other.
Reinforcing the brand’s steadfast dedication to street art is returning artist and curator, Billi Kid of Public Works Department, the creative behind SUSHISAMBA’s permanent collection: the “Eames Inspiration.” This year, Kid will present “The Art of Basketball,” featuring sections of the NBA All Star Game basketball court that have been re-imagined as design pieces for interior spaces. (Example shown above).
The innovative assemblage of home-furnishings-meets-street reveals the dynamic nature of urban design as it takes life in a myriad of mediums.
The visionaries behind the basketball court artwork include several of today’s top urban street and graffiti artists, namely, Billi Kid, Joe Iurato, Jack Aguirre, Shiro, The Dude Company, David Cooper, Cope2, and Ewok One 5MH.
In its 5th year Graffiti Gone Global continues to challenge traditional notions of contemporary design through the work of Fornes, Alkanoglu and Kid. Their individual and collaborative works embrace the grassroot and “hands-on” mantra of street artists who express art in their immediate environment.
About GGG
GGG‘s mission is to cultivate the culture of urban contemporary art and design by collecting, documenting and experimenting with artists from around the globe. SUSHISAMBA’s ongoing appreciation of innovative art and design is reflected in the annual GGG exhibition and demonstrates the transformation of what was once viewed as a rogue art form into a respected niche.
For more information, please visit www.gggexhibit.com
