Guest artist at University of Richmond offers unique experience; light installation to reflect image onto Westhampton Lake

January 22, 2015

Martin Bonadeo, a guest artist from Argentina, will unveil a new installation, “Reflection,” at the University of Richmond on Feb. 5, 6 p.m. at the Tyler Haynes Commons overlooking Westhampton Lake. During the event, which is free and open to the campus and general community, the artist will deliver a few brief remarks.

Bonadeo will install blue electroluminescent wires representing the shapes of rivers in Latin America on a window of the Commons building. The image on the window will be inverted, so the lights reflect right side up onto the lake. The image will flash as the sound of a lightning storm plays.

Bonadeo, a native of Argentina and professor of Latin American and Argentine contemporary art at Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), a Richmond partner university in Buenos Aires, has taught courses at UR in the past as a visiting faculty member. He has a special interest in art that emphasizes the importance of rivers and water reserves.

“Westhampton Lake is one of UR’s landmarks, and I wanted to make a site specific art piece for the lake” said Bonadeo. “The idea of this project is to play around with the concept of water and its importance in our life.”

“Just as the stars, the piece will be bright at night and barely noticeable during daylight,” he added.

University Museums is partnering with the Departments of Art & Art History, the Department of Latin American, Latino, & Iberian Studies, the American Studies Program, the Office of International Education, facilities, events, student activities and the University’s Cultural Affairs Committee to present this art installation.

This artwork will remain up until Feb. 9. Bonadeo has another piece on display as part of the Anti-Grand: Contemporary Perspectives on Landscape in the Harnett Museum of Art on campus. Bonadeo’s installation synthesizes the visual and the olfactory. Open through March 6, the exhibition’s online catalog is available at www.antigrand.com.

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