‘TorusMacroCopula’, 2012 by ernesto neto for the ‘madness is part of life’ exhibition in tokyopolypropylene, polyester string and plastic balls780 x 120 x 120 cmimage © jérémie souteyrat

 

 

designboom visited the ‘madness is part of life’ exhibition at espace louis vuitton tokyo – the prodigious work of renowned brazilian artist ernesto neto and his protegé evandro machado, on show until the 6th of january, 2013. the title itself articulates the ideology behind the artwork, a physical declaration referencing common situations experienced collectively today – generated by a world governed by political correctness, over-stimulation and chaos.

 

the suspended masses, defined by expanses of netting loaded with thousands of plastic balls (aka ‘roe cells’), can be best described as a tangible, lucid expression of madness – a quality thriving in all of us, shushed and controlled by the parameters of a society. neto’s work banishes these boundaries and celebrates the insanity in the most overt way, with one of the largest pieces ‘TorusMacroCopula’ also a catwalk – allowing the audience to walk along the curling path.the artwork honors the taboo of the human condition through loud, unabashed aplomb, and proudly too.

 

neto describes the philosophy behind the pieces:

 

‘the valorization of the human is about productivity over humanist qualities, the closer to machines, the better it is. madness has been part of society, something that must be controlled, hidden by medication as if it were the right thing to do, but right for whom? the world is full of passion; it is a little madness that lives inside and around us….we need it!’

 

 

ernesto neto: madness is part of lifethe suspended masses, defined by expanses of netting loaded with thousands of plastic balls (aka ‘roe cells’), can be best described as a tangible, lucid expression of madnessimage © jérémie souteyrat

 

 

ernesto neto: madness is part of lifeneto’s work banishes society’s boundaries and celebrates the concept of insanity in the most overt wayimage © jérémie souteyrat

 

 

ernesto neto: madness is part of lifethe work is a physical declaration referencing  situations experienced collectively todayimage © jérémie souteyrat

 

 

ernesto neto: madness is part of lifethe surreal landscape of the artworkimage © jérémie souteyrat

 

 

ernesto neto: madness is part of lifeimage © jérémie souteyrat

 

 

ernesto neto: madness is part of lifeviewing the artwork from aboveimage © jérémie souteyrat

 

 

ernesto neto: madness is part of lifepeople are able to walk on this particular installationimage © designboom

 

 

ernesto neto: madness is part of lifea detail photo showing the plastic balls also known as ‘roe cells’ – as dubbed by the artistimage © designboom

 

 

ernesto neto: madness is part of lifeimage © designboom

 

 

ernesto neto: madness is part of lifeimage © designboom

 

ernesto neto: madness is part of lifethe audience was welcomed into the artworkimage © designboom