The Power Plant

Working with an expanded notion of sculpture, and informed by a wide array of references, his work addresses the interplay of physical and social space, calling for political and economic participation. Less interested in critiquing institutions and more in reimagining them, Reyes uses art as a way to encourage collective and individual agency. His works take on a variety of forms. For example, in 2008, Reyes initiated his ongoing project Palas por Pistolas, where 1,527 guns were collected in a voluntary donation campaign and melted down to produce the same number of shovels to plant 1,527 trees. In 2011, Reyes initiated his project Sanatorium, a transient clinic that provides short, unexpected treatments mixing art and psychology. To date, more than 20,000 people have participated in Sanatorium.

Pedro Reyes will discuss his current exhibition within the context of his larger practice.