Bosco Sodi unveils colossal ‘city of cubes’ on the Oaxacan coast
A monumental land art installation takes shape in a largely uninhabited area of the artist’s native Mexico

Artists have long tried to draw a connection between our physical plane and the enigmatic beyond. A new land art work by Bosco Sodi is perhaps among the most ambitious endeavours yet – if not the most colossal. The Mexican artist has erected a 700-tonne ‘city of cubes’ along Oaxaca’s shoreline, adjacent to the Tadao Ando-designed Casa Wabi (the foundation and studio established by Sodi).
Numerical data is by no means a measure of an artwork, though Sodi’s minimalist Atlantes is a pleasing intertwining of art and mathematics. Each of the 64, two sq m cube comprises 1,600 brick ‘timbers’ handmade by Sodi and a team of local craftsmen in a traditional rustic kiln with wood, coconut shells, and jacaranda seeds. There are a total of 102,400 terracotta-hued pieces, fired in 40 batches over nearly 1,000 hours and arranged in a gridded formation.
‘The many points of contact it creates between earth and sky suggests that the heavens are so heavy the weight must be distributed,’ notes Noguchi Museum curator Dakin Hart of the installation. ‘And that human ingenuity can replace divine heroics, but not without great effort.’ Its sheer scale is a spectacle in itself – the rugged Oaxacan landscape notwithstanding – alluding to the Greek myth of Atlas, condemned to hold up the sky for eternity at the ends of the earth.
A canvas for the shifting light during the day, Sodi’s perspective-bending pavilion may not prove as immortal as the titular Titan. The structure will weather over time, tracing ‘a sense of the land’s entropy through erosion and the flora and fauna that will eventually dwell in its corridors. Each of the 614,400 brick faces will slowly succumb to the mountains, desert and ocean that frame the artwork; the fate of Atlantes hanging in equilibrium.
INFORMATION
For more information, visit Bosco Sodi’s website
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
The world’s best denim brands, according to Wallpaper*
From heritage brands to luxury names and independent innovators, our comprehensive guide to the world’s best denim brands helps you find the perfect pair of jeans
By Mary Cleary Published
-
London’s Sloane Street has been transformed into a ‘green boulevard’
Iconic shopping destination Sloane Street has had a facelift, now boasting wider pavements, enhanced seating and lighting, and a massive planting scheme
By Anna Solomon Published
-
'We need to be constantly reminded of our similarities' – Jonathan Baldock challenges the patriarchal roots of a former Roman temple in London
Through use of ceramics and textiles, British artist Jonathan Baldock creates a magical and immersive exhibition at ‘0.1%’ at London's Mithraum Bloomberg Space
By Emily Steer Published
-
Out of office: what the Wallpaper* editors have been doing this week
Investing in quality knitwear, scouting a very special pair of earrings and dining with strangers are just some of the things keeping the Wallpaper* team occupied this week
By Bill Prince Published
-
Edinburgh Art Festival 2023: from bog dancing to binge drinking
What to see at Edinburgh Art Festival 2023, championing women and queer artists, whether exploring Scottish bogland on film or casting hedonism in ceramic
By Amah-Rose Abrams Published
-
Last chance to see: Devon Turnbull’s ‘HiFi Listening Room Dream No. 1’ at Lisson Gallery, London
Devon Turnbull/OJAS’ handmade sound system matches minimalist aesthetics with a profound audiophonic experience – he tells us more
By Jorinde Croese Published
-
Hospital Rooms and Hauser & Wirth unite for a sensorial London exhibition and auction
Hospital Rooms and Hauser & Wirth are working together to raise money for arts and mental health charities
By Hannah Silver Published
-
‘These Americans’: Will Vogt documents the USA’s rich at play
Will Vogt’s photo book ‘These Americans’ is a deep dive into a world of privilege and excess, spanning 1969 to 1996
By Sophie Gladstone Published
-
Brian Eno extends his ambient realms with these environment-altering sculptures
Brian Eno exhibits his new light box sculptures in London, alongside a unique speaker and iconic works by the late American light artist Dan Flavin
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Asim Waqif creates dense bamboo display at the Hayward in London
The Bagri Foundation Commission, Asim Waqif’s वेणु [Venu], opens at the Hayward Gallery in London
By Cleo Roberts-Komireddi Published
-
Forrest Myers is off the wall at Catskill Art Space this summer
Forrest ‘Frosty’ Myers makes his mark at Catskill Art Space, NY, celebrating 50 years of his monumental Manhattan installation, The Wall
By Pei-Ru Keh Published