The Tamesis
As part of its upcoming spring programme, London’s Barbican Center will host a large-scale commissioned work by artist Delcy Morelos, her first in the UK.
For the commission, which runs from May 15 to July 31, Morelos will construct her most ambitious sculptural installation to date. The new work, approximately 78 feet in circumference, is located in the Barbican’s outdoor sculpture courtyard and takes the form of an oval pavilion made from soil, clay, spices and plant materials.
The Morelos commission is the Barbican’s third for its public areas and the first for its sculpture court. Devyani Saltzman, director of arts and engagement at the Barbican, said in a statement: “Our Public Realm Commission invites artists to respond to the Barbican’s iconic Brutalist architecture while inviting our audiences to experience new works in our spaces. Morelos’ installation returns our sculpture courtyard to its original purpose in the most incredible way.”.
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Buchman said in a statement that Morelos’ work, “rooted in the earth, materiality, and ancestral wisdom, finds the perfect home in this special space. Through her immersive vision, she invites us not only to see, but to feel and inhabit the essence of the world. We believe that exposure to bold, ambitious, and profound art is critical to expanding creative opportunities, cultivating the next generation of artists and cultural leaders, and inspiring the broader public.”
Over the past few years, Morelos has become known for creating such installations, as she did at the 2022 Venice Biennale and her 2023 solo exhibition at the Dia Art Foundation in New York. At the latter exhibition, Morelos was awarded the first ARTnews Notable Artist of the Year Award.
One of the pieces in her Dia exhibition is titled el abrazo (Embrace). In this installation, viewers will enter a V-shaped alcove and appear to be embraced by the earth. Viewers are encouraged to touch the earth embedded within.
“It’s made of earth – it’s very fragile. It has dimension and scale, but it’s also humble and fragile in its material,” she told art news That exhibition. “It’s something very feminine, very delicate. When you get close and feel the earth surrounding you, the embrace really happens.”
