Peruvian Artist Elena Damiani Wins Installation Project at Americas Society
Peruvian Artist Elena Damiani Wins Installation Project at Americas Society
The artist was awarded a commission to create a permanent installation at the organization's New York headquarters.
An original piece by a rising Latin American artist will celebrate Americas Society’s 50-year support for Pan-American arts and culture
New York, November 21, 2014—Americas Society will commission Peruvian artist Elena Damiani to create a permanent installation for the David Rockefeller Atrium at its New York headquarters.
The art commission is the final piece of an initiative to reinvigorate the lobby of Americas Society’s historic building at 680 Park Avenue, a space recently redesigned by Mexican architect Enrique Norten and his associates at TEN Arquitectos.
"On the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of Americas Society, this project reaffirms our support for the promotion of arts and culture from the Western Hemisphere," says Americas Society/Council of the Americas President and CEO Susan Segal. "The proposal of this outstanding artist is truly in the spirit of what was envisioned for the space since the start—unique on its own, yet in harmony with the renovated architecture."
Damiani’s installation was the winner of a commission that received applications from 17 different Latin American artists. Four participants—Esvin Alarcón Lam (Guatemala), Elena Damiani (Peru), Marcius Galan (Brazil), and Jorge Pedro Núñez (Venezuela)—were the selected finalists. The proposals of these four artists are currently on view through December 13 at the Americas Society Art Gallery exhibition Spatial Acts.
"Elena Damiani has a sharp understanding of the space and the institution’s mission as a global platform for the arts and culture of the Americas," says Americas Society Chief Curator and Visual Arts Director Gabriela Rangel. Damiani conceived an encased structure of translucent prints in high tempered glass that will present satellite views of Mount Chimborazo, the highest peak above the equator. For the artist, these images and their visual narrative will allow the public to delve into notions of mobilization, displacement, expansion, and exploration.
Watch a video of Elena Damiani on her proposal for the commission:
