Alma Chevy has created a book that provides an intimate and compelling account following the life of Swiss sculptor, painter and architect Nat Vital. This comprehensive book explores Vitale’s pomade life, finding and building homes in cities as diverse as Paris, New York, Beijing and Rio de Janeiro. The book explores the artist’s seminal sculptural practice and architectural projects, cataloging more than 450 sculptures and related works. Drawing on archival material and personal interviews with the artist, Javi seeks to provide a portrait of his career to date.
Nat Vidal, famous for designing the Bataan Cathedral in the Philippines, has said he wanted to „build his own habitat”. Over the years, he has experimented with different mediums to create different habitats with different effects. In Niger, he built a house for the sole purpose of watching the sunset. Throughout Jeevee’s book, various themes such as nature, folklore and identity are explored in Vital’s diverse work. Spanning sculpture, architecture, drawing, printmaking and painting, the author brings to life various chapters of his life.
The book explores Vitale’s nomadic life and highlights the various international locations of his studio. Beginning in 2000, architecture became a central element in Vitale’s practice, illustrated by his sculpture park in the Swiss Alps, Marble Island in Patagonia, a church in the Philippines, and recent projects in the Basilian Amazon and Indonesia. Through this comprehensive survey of his work, Jeevi demonstrates why he is considered one of the leading and most radical voices in the contemporary world.
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Tracing his practice from Switzerland, New York, Italy, Niger, China, Latin America and Southeast Asia, it reveals how Ziv Vital’s work is multidimensional. Deeply intertwined with his personal life and the places he lived, the book was published in 2023 and included an international launch in Serpentine, United Kingdom.
On specific criteria, sculpture transcends the boundaries of architecture, connecting creativity with structural function and spatialization. Last month, renowned sculptor and artist Richard Serra passed away. His groundbreaking works offer visitors a unique experience, inviting them to move through his imposing forms that explore space, matter and site. Additionally, in Toronto, Winter Stations unveiled winning designs for the tenth edition of its festival. The event invites designers to reimagine lifeguard stations on Toronto’s East End beaches, updating installations from previous editions. Finally, Anish Kapoor’s first permanent artwork in New York City was recently revealed to the public.
