Fonseca’s Imaginary Playground

Looking like architectural models, the works of artist Gonzalo Fonseca (1922-1997) born in Montevideo, Uruguay stimulate the viewer’s imagination through the unfolding of different narratives in his miniature sculptures. His sculptures are filled with stories, connections, abstractions, metaphors and associations, something that could also be adopted in architecture models. Fonseca studied architecture at the university of Montevideo for three years, before joining Uruguayan artist Torres-Garcia’s workshop school from 1942-1949. There he explored concepts of abstraction and constructivism. The nature of Fonseca’s sculptures are an embodiment of the ideas and concepts of Latin American Art that he absorbed from his voyages to archaeological sites, as well as from the relationships he entertained with fellow artists. Another key figure in Fonseca’s life was the Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi (1904 -1988), whom he met in 1960s and 70s on several occasions, first in in NYC and then in Italy. Fonseca and Noguchi shared a close bond based on their unique identities. Their friendship fostered a new understanding of sculpture, which went beyond object making into observing them as a microcosmic way to understand play.

Volume Editors
Jasmine Benyamin, Kyle Reynolds, Mo Zell, Nikole Bouchard & Whitney Moon

ISBN
978-1-944214-28-9