Over the weekend, the Faena District in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a series of art installations and events. Founded by Alan Faena in 2004, the area began with construction of the Faena Hotel, and quickly transformed the area into a thriving community with the ensuing addition of four residential projects and finally an arts center in 2011. To celebrate this growth, the Faena Arts Center commissioned a site-specific installation by the contemporary artist duo Eli Sudbrack and Christophe Hamaide Pierson, who together make up assume vivid astro focus (avaf). Entitled ángeles veloces arcanos fugaces, the work was a sort of rehashing of another installation by the duo, fittingly completed in 2004, of a neon disco-inspired roller rink. The rink was indoors, open to the public, and featured music by comedian, drag artist, and DJ, Lady Bunny. In addition, the hotel featured a retrospective of photographs documenting the its conception and history.
Faena Group plans to expand internationally in 2015, beginning with a series of projects centered in Miami Beach, FL. Faena Miami Beach will include Faena House, a complex of luxury oceanfront homes designed by Brandon Haw; Faena Hotel Miami Beach, with design by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin; as well as Faena Arts Center, Artists Residencies, Park, Marina and Bazaar all designed by Rem Koolhaas with OMA. The group hopes to foster a renaissance of creative life and activity in the area, similar to that achieved in Buenos Aires.
Photo by Carolina Bonfanti
