Courtesy of the artist, commissioned by The Bass, Miami Beach.
Abraham Cruzvillegas’ newly commissioned sculptural installation Agua Dulce brings the artist’s philosophy of autoconstrucción or “selfconstruction,” a practice of resilience and generosity, to Collins Park. Utilizing numerous species of flora, fauna and mineral; performers mimicking native birds; and seating that the artist constructed with locally sourced materials, Agua dulce forms a plant environment in front of The Bass encompassing nearly 14,000 square feet.
Through research with local experts on native flora, Cruzvillegas selected around 23 different species to create the installation of more than 1,000 plants. Many of the included species, like the Salix Caroliniana (Coastal Plain Willow), have medicinal properties and are regularly used by the Seminoles, introducing notions of care and restoration to the installation. Through the “reclaimed” landscape of native species, visitors can learn from and question their surrounding environment.
