Brazilian artist Henrique Oliveira is known for his works that use organic forms for sculptural pieces and installations. He brings his signature style to the Palais de Tokyoin his piece "Baitogogo," which transforms an exhibition space into a convoluted jumble of tree limbs sprouting from within the room. Building off of the beams and columns already present, Oliveira visualizes the legend of the Gordian Knot—a supposedly impossible twist solved only by thinking creatively (or cheating). His work blends into the surrounding architecture in a fluid manner that is almost surreal.
The work of the Sao Paulo-based artist was influenced by the Brazilian urban landscape. It uses materials recycled from the city setting like the wood that is used to build fences around construction sites. By referencing his native land and focusing on organic shapes, Oliveira communicates ideas of growth and rebirth through his sculptural work.
According to the Palais de Tokyo, "The artist draws inspiration from medical textbooks, amongst others, and particularly from studies of physical pathologies such as tumors. Through a formal analogy, these outgrowths evoke the outermost layers of the bark of a common tree."
Watch "Baitogogo" come alive below:
[via Colossal / Designboom]
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