Using 26 concrete blocks, architect Luciano Benites* presents “a critique of the fractures in the urban fabric that often occur in many Latin American cities.” This graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at Universidad ORT Uruguay selected, along with 34 other artists, to exhibit his work in the show “An Exhibition About Nothing,” organized by the Pablo Atchugarry Foundation. Benites has exhibited some 20 times in Uruguay and Spain. Art and architecture have intertwined in his life, which since 2010 has unfolded in Barcelona, where he resides. There, in just two years, he completed a Master’s degree in Theory and Practice of Architectural Design at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, and is currently pursuing another, a Master’s in Artistic Production and Research, at the University of Barcelona. In this interview, he discusses his work in Barcelona and his participation in the Atchugarry Foundation exhibition.
-What is the work you're exhibiting in "An Exhibition About Nothing" at the Pablo Atchugarry Foundation about?
This is a critique of the fracture in the urban fabric that often occurs in many Latin American cities, especially in large ones. I am referring to the formal city and the informal city. Since 2010, I have been deeply focused on this reality. It was the topic I chose for my thesis in the Master’s in Theory and Practice of Architectural Design at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (2010–2011). The thesis was titled “Public Space and Social Interaction: The Cultural Meaning of Urban Form.” I work with concrete, and in this case I propose 26 blocks. Nine of them are uniform and arranged in an orderly manner according to a regular grid within the exhibition space. The others are scattered outside and are formally irregular.
-Beyond the characteristics of the work you're exhibiting at Atchugarry, what do you do when you're creating art?
I would have to distinguish between two lines of work that do not necessarily follow the same path, but are certainly complementary to one another. Until a few years ago, I painted in oils and acrylics while, at the same time, I was experimenting with cement. Since 2010, I have been pursuing a more conceptual line of work, closely tied to real urban issues that often stem from architecture. Barcelona’s artistic tradition is characterized by being more conceptual than that of other Spanish cities, and I certainly see that reflected in my current work. On my website, you can see some recent works that define my stance on certain issues.
-What is your current job in Barcelona?
I am a contributing editor for CHFVISION, a Mexican art magazine, where I write bimonthly articles on art and architecture. I am also working toward completing my Master’s degree in Artistic Production and Research at the University of Barcelona. In 2012, I worked on architectural competition projects for Brazil, where I was fortunate enough to win an award for a project in Rio de Janeiro. I also participated in two international architecture conferences in Barcelona and was shortlisted to represent Uruguay at the Ibero-American Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism in Cádiz. Next year, I will continue my art studies in Shanghai and New York.
*Luciano Benites lived in Montevideo but has been based in Barcelona since 2010, where he is pursuing a Master’s degree in Artistic Production and Research at the University of Barcelona. He has been a licensed architect since 2006, having graduated from the School of Architecture at Universidad ORT Uruguay. He taught Project 1, 2, and 4 from 2008 to 2010. He holds a Master’s degree in Theory and Practice of Architectural Design from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona (2011). He is an editor for the international photography collective Memoriazero. He is the Barcelona correspondent for the magazine VISION - Espacio de Artes visuales (CHFVISION), Mexico. He has created works in photography, audiovisual media, painting, drawing, and installations, and currently works with cement in various formats.
Interview published in November 2012