Inoperable Cities: Memories of Sand

Wire Mesh and Sand Sculptures of Venezuelan Museums at El Consulado de la República de Pachanga

Project Overview

Venue: El Consulado de la República de Pachanga
Location: New York, NY
Duration: May 23-29, 2025

Artistic Concept

'Memories of Sand', part of the 'Inoperable Cities' series, transforms El Consulado's liminal space into a meditation on memory, displacement, and cultural preservation, core concepts of the gallery, through the creation of sand sculptures representing Venezuelan museums, beginning with the MACCSI (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Caracas Sofía Imber).

This living installation embodies the fragility and resilience of cultural institutions while evoking childhood memories of Venezuelan beaches, the formative act of building with sand, and the precarious state of the nation's cultural heritage.

The project draws inspiration from Sofia Imber's pioneering work in establishing Venezuela's premier contemporary art museum, exploring how cultural institutions serve as monuments to collective memory and sites of ongoing transformation. Through geometric forms and architectural elements that echo Venezuelan brutalist design, the installation bridges past and present, homeland and diaspora.

Installation Components

Primary Structures:

• Wire mesh framework sculpture representing the MACCSI edifice
• Sand sculpture recreation of the museum building using architectural forms
• Supporting geometric elements reflecting Venezuelan brutalist aesthetics

Multimedia Integration:

• Video projections documenting the investigation process
• Digital screens displaying archival footage and interviews
• Multimedia elements exploring migration narratives and museum histories

Interactive Elements:

• Participatory construction process open to gallery visitors
• Community collaboration workshops
• Artist talk on the identity and role of the museum during sociopolitical shifts

Project Timeline

Day 1 (May 23): Foundation & Planning

• Material delivery and setup (sand, wire mesh, wood, cardboard)
• Workflow setup and 7-day activity planning

Days 2-6 (May 24-28): Active Construction

• Panel cutting and framework assembly
• Exploration of large cardboard boxes for practical form-building
• Daily afternoon building sessions with community participation
• Layered sand application onto framework surfaces
• Moisture maintenance for structural integrity
• Progressive development of architectural details
• Final architectural refinements
• Documentation of completed structures

Days 7 (May 29): Artist Talk & Reflection

• Artist talk: On the condition of the museum in Venezuela
• Discussion of Venezuelan brutalist architecture and the idea of monument museums
• Exploration of Sofia Imber's legacy
• Contemporary dialogue on the role of the museum in contemporary society

Materials & Resources

Construction Materials (provided by the artist):

• Sand (One 50lb bag)
• Wire mesh for structural framework
• Wood and cardboard for base and panel construction
• Large cardboard boxes (new/recycled)
• Natural adhesive for preservation
• Water spray bottles for moisture control

Documentation Equipment (provided by the gallery):

• Digital screens for multimedia display
• Projection equipment for video installations
• Audio equipment for artist talks

Community Engagement

This living installation emphasizes collaborative creation, inviting gallery staff and visitors to participate actively or passively in the construction process. Daily afternoon sessions will be open to community members who wish to contribute in any way, shape or form to the artwork's development, making the creation process as significant as the final pieces.

The participatory nature aligns with El Consulado's mission as a space shaped by artistic collaboration and community engagement, transforming the gallery into an active site of cultural production and dialogue.

Cultural Significance

'Inoperable Cities: Memories of Sand' addresses the complex relationship between cultural preservation and displacement experienced by Venezuelan immigrants. By recreating institutional architecture in sand—a material associated with childhood, impermanence, and the coastal geography of Venezuela—the project explores how cultural memory persists despite physical distance and institutional fragility.

The work honors Sofia Imber's vision while questioning how museums function as cultural anchors in times of political and social upheaval. Through its temporary yet monumental presence, the installation embodies the paradox of preservation: how cultural institutions can be both enduring symbols and fragile constructions subject to time, politics, and circumstance. See the text: The Decline of Art Museums and the Arts in Venezuela

Expected Outcomes

• Creation of monumental yet ephemeral sculptures reflecting Venezuelan architectural heritage
• Community-driven artistic process fostering cultural dialogue
• Documentation of collaborative creation methodology
• Platform for discussing contemporary challenges facing Venezuelan cultural institutions
• Bridge-building between Venezuelan diaspora community and broader New York arts ecosystem

Artist Statement

This project emerges from my investigation into how cultural institutions survive and transform across borders, carrying the weight of collective memory while adapting to new contexts. Through sand—material of play, impermanence, and coastal memory—I explore how we reconstruct and reimagine the cultural foundations that anchor our sense of identity and belonging.

The living nature of this installation reflects the ongoing evolution of cultural preservation efforts within immigrant communities, where traditional institutions are recreated, reinterpreted, and given new life through collaborative artistic practice.

The first iteration of the 'Inoperable Cities' installations, 'Modelo de Estado' was shown at the International Biennial of Contemporary Art/ULA 2022, The return of things.

Project Contact: Helwing Villamizar (bio)
Venue Contact: El Consulado de la República de Pachanga
Installation Dates: May 23-31, 2025