ernesto neto: anthropodino at the park avenue armory, new york

'anthropodino' by ernesto neto
park avenue armory, new york
may 14 to june 14, 2009


pale shades of diaphanous fabric are used to construct anthropodino
photo © james ewing
image courtey of park avenue armory

the park avenue armory has announced the next step in its evolution as an arts institution
with the launch of an annual program in which an artist is selected to create a work inspired
by the armory's vast wade thompson drill hall. the artist for this year's inaugural
'drill hall commissions' program is ernesto neto, the brazilian artist well-known for
creating immersive, multi-sensory installations which invite viewers to engage with
and often literally enter the work. for his project at the park avenue armory,
neto is presenting 'anthropodino' (2009), which is also his largest installation to date.

anthropodino will fill almost entirely, the armory's expansive wade thompson drill hall.
neto has used hundreds of yards of fine, sheer materials to create a giant suspended canopy,
in which large, colorful and aromatic 'stalactites' will descend within arms reach.
the floor of the installation consists of a series of monumental arches which have been
covered by translucent fabric, fit together like a large puzzle to create a labyrinth of
walkways and rooms, inviting visitors to step inside the sculpture in which various activities,
including presentations and participatory experiences will take place.


a close-up look at the transparent structure
photo © james ewing
image courtey of park avenue armory

incorporating the architecture of the armory itself, neto's installation will allow the public to
explore the piece from different perspectives of the drill hall and its interior balcony,
interacting with the work from both the ground and from a bird's eye view.

the work as it was originally conceived, will consist of a fine, net-like fabric or 'skin'
suspended from the drill hall's steel latticework ceiling, spanning an area of approximately
192 feet by 100 feet, with pieces suspended from its trusses up to 69 feet long.
hundreds of pounds of spices, including turmeric, clove, ginger, black pepper and cumin,
will infuse the environment with scent, and provide structural support for the vertical elements
along with a heightened sensorial experience.


colorful, aromatic 'stalactites' are suspended as part of the installation
photo © james ewing
image courtey of park avenue armory


the internal canopy of the installation where visitors can interact and enjoy the installation from a different view
photo © james ewing
image courtey of park avenue armory


the domed top of one section
photo © james ewing
image courtey of park avenue armory


photo © james ewing
image courtey of park avenue armory


small openings found in the skin of 'anthropodino' allow visitors to interact with the installation
photo © james ewing
image courtey of park avenue armory


the expansive interior
photo © james ewing
image courtey of park avenue armory


'anthropodino' consuming the armory's wade thompson drill hall
photo © james ewing
image courtey of park avenue armory


portrait of ernesto neto
photo © adriana botero
image courtey of park avenue armory

since the mid 1990's, ernest neto has lived and worked in rio de janeiro,
developing widely exhibited and influential bodies of work in contemporary sculpture
and installation. neto draws influence not only from the biomorphism and modernist
abstraction of calder and brancusi, but equally from the conceptual, social and performative
installations of his brazilian predecessors, lygia clarke and helio oiticia.
incorporating a combination of both mundane and organic materials - including stockings,
spices, sand and shells - neto's works engage all five senses, inviting the visitors to interact
with the artwork itself and with eachother. in 1990 neto participated in the carnegie international
nd in 2001, he represented brazil in the venice biennale.