Art Basel Miami Beach 2004
Miami Mangrove Forest
Xavier
Cortada chose the image of the mangrove tree as the centerpiece
of the
Miami Mangrove Forest public art project to the transform clammy, dingy and dark places
beneath Miami’s highways. Cortada decided to recreate the
underpass'
natural environment when the first European settlers arrived:
a mangrove forest.
Miami is a
young City. Instead of painting a full grown forest, Cortada
chose to portray the mangrove early in its lifecycle of
growth: a sea of floating seedlings readying to set their
roots. Mangrove seedlings serve as a metaphor to honor the
people who made the journey to Miami and decided to set their
roots here. "We’ve all come from different places to make Miami
our home," said Cortada, "much like a mangrove seed washes up and takes root
on a Florida sandbar and helps builds new land where new life
can take hold."
The mangrove
roots symbolize the residents who have set roots in their
neighborhood and built community. “Having this painted
forest's roots spread across these different neighborhoods,
depicts our interconnectedness,” stated the artist, “by reaching
out to others, we build a stronger community, much like the
walking feet of mangrove roots do to build formidable
structures and nurture new life.”
Portraying
the natural world in urban spaces is also important because it
reminds us of what was here before all the concrete was
poured. As generations and growth transform Miami, we as
a people are grounded by nature, the one constant in this ever
changing and wonderful city.
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