henrique oliveira's arboreal installation in las vegas is like 'seeing a tree from underground'

inside the lobby of the park MGM in las vegas, brazilian artist henrique oliveira has stretched an enormous arboreal installation across the ceiling, welcoming visitors and guests to the hotel. oliveira is widely known for his use of scavenged, weathered wood to create spatial constructions combining painting, architecture, and sculpture. the artist’s mammoth installation — mimicking the root structure of a tree — brings together wood sourced from his native brazil and the surrounding landscape, serving as a reminder of the natural environment that exists around the las vegas strip.

the installation takes shape across the ceiling of the park MGM hotel in las vegas 
image by patrick michael chin | video banner © alina rancier

in a short film, an excerpt of which can be seen above, oliveira discusses the process of creating his work, which has become the centerpiece of park MGM. ‘I’ve had this idea for a while of something that’s like a giant root, as if you could see a tree from underground,’ he says. ‘I decided to work just with material brought from brazil and natural wood found around the las vegas area.’ the film forms part of MGM resorts art & culture’s new series of artist videos, which debuted in the MGM resorts lounge at art basel this year.

oliveira is widely known for his use of scavenged, weathered wood
image © alina rancier

the mammoth installation brings together wood sourced from his native brazil and the surrounding landscape
image © alina rancier

oliveira discusses the process of creating his work in a video above 
image © alina rancier

‘I’ve had this idea for a while of something that’s like a giant root,’ the artist says
image © alina rancier

the sculpture mimics the root structure of a tree, as seen from underground 
image © alina rancier

the artist weaves strips of wood together to create an oversized, root-like form 
image © alina rancier

a film about the artwork forms part of MGM resorts art & culture’s new series of artist videos
image © alina rancier