Cabeza Vainilla Cabeza Córdoba Cabeza Chiapas: Vancouver Biennale

Wednesday March 17th, 2010
GOTOVAN_MARIN_02

Amazing Giant Heads in Richmond by Master Mexican Sculptor Javier Marin. Photo by GoToVan.

As the afterglow of the 2010 Winter Olympics becomes the rainy reality of early spring people are getting a chance to check out some of the amazing sculpture and public art that the Vancouver Biennale exhibition has positioned in parks and public spaces throughout Vancouver and the City of Richmond.

The Vancouver Biennale began the most recent 2 year exhibition during the late summer of 2009 and continued to display work throughout the fall and early winter.

During the Olympics many tourists from around the world marveled at the beauty and austerity of the works and had their photos taken with them.

The amazing light show Vectorial Elevation provided a sublime backdrop to the sculptures positioned along False Creek.

These amazing pieces, located along the Skytrain Canada Line in Richmond, were created by Mexican artist, Javier Marin and feature heroic, iconic, classically inspired heads made of polyester resin and iron.

GOTOVAN_MARIN_01

Cabeza Vainilla Cabeza Córdoba Cabeza Chiapas by Javier Marin. Photo by GoToVan.

Cabeza Vainilla Cabeza Córdoba Cabeza Chiapas by Javier Marin (Mexico)

Polyester resin and iron

In these gigantic heads one can sense strength, decay, dignity and history. The red color of the Mexican clay suggests remnants of some ancient monument to unknown heroes and the struggles of a people to become an independent nation.

Javier Mari

n’s sculptures make a profound impression whenever they are exhibited. The gigantic heads of polyester resin and iron appear as if rendered in clay. They are the color of the earth, terracotta, the red clay of the earth, a material with special significance to many cultures. They suggest remnants or fragments of some ancient monument to unknown heroes. The forms look like they were dragged through the streets at some distant time, brutalized and left to rest or be mused upon.

The realistically rendered severed heads retain their dignity and emit as sense of history, suggesting both strength and decay. Duality is everywhere in Marin’s heads. They rest precariously on edges, about to roll. They wear the mantle and dress of another time; maybe Conquistadores, Aztecs or Mayas or the faces of Marin’s native Mexico, yet all are shaped in the style of Spanish Baroque sculpture.

Javier Marín was born in Uruapan, in the Michoacin region of Mexico.  He is one of the foremost Mexican figurative sculptors whose work has been exhibited in Mexico City, Madrid, Paris, Milan and Venice.

For more information visit www.javiermarin.com.mx

GOTOVAN_MARIN_03

Amazing Giant Heads in Richmond by Master Mexican Sculptor Javier Marin. Photo by GoToVan.

Like what you see?