World Artists to Turn Rio de Janeiro into One Large Work of Art

Next month, six of the world’s most famous artists will begin turning Rio de Janeiro, Brazil into a giant work of art.

In a project named OiR (Other Ideas for Rio), artists Robert Morris, Brian Eno, Juame Plensa, Andy Goldsworthy, Ryoji Ikeda, and Henrique Oliveira will create various works in their own individual styles.

The art installations will turn Rio into one big art gallery.

OiR curator Marcello Dantas recently told The Rio Times, ‘The challenge of contemporary art is to increase your audience. And how to do this? Bringing great works to public spaces.’

Each artists’ work will be revealed to the public on September 7 and the art will be up/displayed until November 2nd. OiR is a public art project and is expected to run every other year until 2016.

This year, Brazilian artist Henrique Oliveira will work in Rio’s Madureira area. Catalonian artist Juame Plensa will have his human head sculpture displayed at Flamengo Beach. Plensa is the artist responsible for the interesting LED screen art that shot water onto Chicago’s streets. Japanese artist Ryoji Ikeda will have his work in Arpoador. Andy Goldsworthy of England will be in the Rio harbor area or Zona Portuaria. Minimalist Robert Morris is creating a glass maze for Cinelândia, and Brian Eno, an English musician, composer, and visual artist, will have his audio installation art “77 Million Paintings” set up at the Arcos da Lapa. The arches are also known as the Carioca Aqueduct.

Published in Notitas de Noticias