17 Oct ICYMI: Bordalo II’s ‘Wild Wild Waste’ at Life Is Beautiful’s Art Motel
If you weren’t able to attend Life Is Beautiful 2018 (or were too busy migrating from stage to stage to catch your favorite acts) and missed the famed Art Motel presented by Zappos, we’ve got you covered! If you’re new around here, The Art Motel by Zappos was an old vacant motel until falling within the Life Is Beautiful footprint. It was used to house various interactive art installations during the first festival in 2013. In earlier years, local artists curated their own rooms creating a mini-museum of both modern and traditional art but has evolved as the festival grows, pursuing more ambitious art and culture initiatives. The Art Motel has become an opportunity for some of the world’s greatest artists to have some fun, make a statement or do a little of both.
This year’s installation was created and installed by none other than #DTLV favorite Bordalo II. The Portuguese eco-artist has made a name for himself with his thought-provoking street sculptures, depicting wild life and other animals out of the very trash that threatens their natural habitat and species.
This year Bordalo made a statement during his turn in The Art Motel presenting an installation titled ‘Wild Wild Waste’, a zoo parody encompassing 10,000 square feet of space igniting conversations involving both our treatment of wild life and our responsibility and relation to the products we consume and waste we produce. Turning trash into beautiful works of art is both inspiring and somber, often creating an introspective discomfort that aims to inspire action. Animals housed in the installation included a lion stuck in a truck, whale caught in a net, monkeys, pandas, penguins on plastic and a family of foxes. To keep up with Bordalo II, follow him on Instagram at @bOrdalo_ii.
The art at Life Is Beautiful is curated by JustKids. Follow @JustKidsOfficial on Instagram and keep an eye out for who might be taking over the Zappos Art Motel next year. Who would you like to see? Let us know in the comments.
Photo Credit: JustKids
