“Breathing” Sculptures of Argentinian Artist Adrian Villar Rojas Featured at New York City’s High Line

Argentinian sculptor Adrian Villar Rojas is one of the emerging South American artists backed by investor Nicole Junkermann’s philanthropic program to support Latin American art production and visibility. Nicole Junkermann is committed to creativity, education and cultural development through the arts, and believes that art is a powerful and necessary tool for positive social change and peaceful coexistence. The owner of over 40 unique pieces of art by young Latin American artists, Nicole Junkermann is currently working to establish the JJ Foundation, which will sponsor commissions and prizes for up-and-coming artists. Nicole Junkermann has acquired one of Adrian Villar Rojas’s pieces, which she has lent to the NMAC Foundation, a Spanish contemporary art foundation that fosters harmonious dialogue between art and nature.

The most recent exhibit by Adrian Villar Rojas will be displayed in New York City as part of the final installation of the city’s High Line. This last section will open to the public in fall 2014. Rojas, a 34-year-old internationally renowned artist based in Rosario, Argentina, is planning a series of outdoor sculptures to be constructed on the High Line itself. Rojas’s art has been described as “ruins” due to its transitory nature – the sculptures, made from clay, concrete and organic materials, are designed to disintegrate over time. Rojas, however, prefers to describe his sculptures as “breathing”.

The final stretch of the High Line, located between 30^th and 34^th street, is wilder than the existing parts of the park, which contain manicured gardens and modern architecture. The newest section, where Rojas’ work will be displayed, includes a pedestrian boardwalk suspended above native vegetation. Rojas hopes to incorporate elements of the natural scenery and setting of the park into the construction of his sculptures, and has stated that he will deviate from his past style of monumental sculpture to create something that allows for full enjoyment of the Hudson River skyline and the unique surrounding environment. In addition to his favored mix of materials, Rojas will use orange peels, eggshells, and grass in the installation.

The High Line is Adrian Villar Rojas’s first public art installation in New York City. His work has previously been displayed in the city’s Museum of Modern Art and the New Museum. Rojas received the 9^th Benesse Prize for promising young artists in 2011 at the 54^th Venice Biennial. He has also been awarded various scholarships and residencies. It is likely that the High Line exhibit will provide Rojas with even more public exposure, and will increase opportunities for this talented artist to exhibit his work in diverse venues.