Design

Take this public art installation for a spin: Mexican designers debut at Discovery Green

Discovery Green will host a joyful interactive art installation by internationally acclaimed Mexico City designers Héctor Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena. Los Trompos or “the spinning tops” will be showcased from Nov. 14, 2015-March 22, 2016. The elements of the colorful large-scale installation take their form from the common toy.

A special opening celebration featuring music, dance, food and more is set for Saturday, Nov. 14 from 2-5 pm.

Made possible by a generous grant from the Kinder Foundation, Los Trompos draws inspiration from spinning tops, the internationally popular children’s toy. Twenty 3D structures will feature a variety of colors and shapes, creating a vibrant sea of movement. The tops will only spin when manipulated by two or more people, fostering an engaging connection.

The tops in Los Trompos are all woven in a traditional style used by Mexican artists and will be assembled on site. Each top has a unique shape inspired by nature and traditional Latin American design, architecture and folk art.

“Discovery Green has become Houston’s grand public space where all are invited to discover, imagine and explore,” said Barry Mandel, president of Discovery Green Conservancy. “Esrawe and Cadena’s Los Trompos will offer visitors a captivating and interactive experience while furthering our commitment to energizing the park with incredible public art.”

Esrawe and Cadena work together at their interdisciplinary design firm E+C® in Mexico City and have participated individually and together in various projects around the U. S. and Mexico. Los Trompos was created by the designers during their residency at the High Museum of Atlanta. Upon invitation from Discovery Green Conservancy, Esrawe and Cadena visited the park and selected the Sarofim Picnic Lawn to develop this unique site specific presentation of Los Trompos for its second iteration.

“The concept behind Los Trompos is based on traditional toys, their colorful expression and the way they are constructed,” said Esrawe. “We like the idea of translating these techniques into new symbolsused to create an interactive piece that is part installation, part furniture and part playground, a place where human connections are made. Los Trompos is a place of color and joy.”

Further rooting Los Trompos in Houston’s distinct culture will be a series of performances by Houston community groups, happening every Friday evening beginning in December. Arts organizations and individual performers are being invited to present dance, spoken word, theatrical and musical performances at Los Trompos.

The full schedule will be available at www.discoverygreen.com/lostrompos.

Esrawe and Cadena’s installation is the second selected by the Conservancy’s recently-established Public Art Committee, chaired by Judy Nyquist and comprised of community experts dedicated to bringing the best international art to Discovery Green. Chosen for their creative and colorful designs, Esrawe and Cadena also shares the park’s commitment to connecting the community through art.

“Los Trompos captivates visitors in a light-hearted, whimsical and rare way, both physically and visually,” said Nyquist. “With this and all future art commissioned and presented, the committee hopes Houstonians will continue to see Discovery Green as a destination for unexpected installations and interventions.”

Los Trompos at Discovery Green is made possible by a generous grant from the Kinder Foundation. Additional support is provided by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, the Consulate General of Mexico in Houston and the professional services of the Weingarten Art Group.

Watch the video below: