HIGHLIGHTING ART ON THE SAND
PARAISO LOVES SAND ACTIVATIONS & SO DO ARTISTS: Art Basel’s Tradition of Art on the Sand
The Great Elephant Migration brought a breathtaking stampede to Miami Beach, transforming the sands between 35th and 36th Streets into an art-meets-conservation runway. Featuring 100 life-sized, handcrafted elephant sculptures made from lantana camara weed and steel, the installation spotlighted the plight of these majestic animals while evoking a surreal connection to Miami's sun-kissed shores. Visitors were invited to interact with the herd, creating a magical fusion of art, nature, and the communal spirit that defines beach culture. The juxtaposition of these elegant creatures against the ocean backdrop paralleled the themes of harmony and preservation, a true reminder that the beach isn't just a place for leisure—it's a stage for storytelling and a call to action for environmental awareness.
During Art Basel Miami Beach 2023, Sebastian Errazuriz’s installation Maze: Journey Through the Algorithmic Self invited visitors to navigate a sand-covered labyrinth on the beach behind the Faena Hotel. Created with the help of AI platforms Midjourney and DALLE2, the maze explored the intersection of technology and self-reflection, encouraging participants to confront their thoughts in a central clearing. Commissioned by Faena Art, the project highlighted Errazuriz's long-standing integration of technology into his art, sparking dialogue about AI's impact on creativity and society. Open to the public starting December 5, this activation combined Miami’s beach ambiance with cutting-edge artistic innovation, offering a thought-provoking experience that aligned with Art Basel's spirit of exploration.
In 2021, Saint Laurent brought the artistry of Sho Shibuya to the shores of Miami during Art Basel, transforming Beachfront at 17th Street into an open-air gallery. The exhibition featured 55 of Shibuya’s striking sunrise paintings, many created on the front pages of the New York Times, reflecting themes of hope and resilience from the pandemic era. This activation, part of Saint Laurent’s Rive Droite Ephemeral Gallery project, connected the serenity of natural sunrises with the allure of fashion history, as two works drew inspiration from Saint Laurent’s iconic 1966 Rive Gauche logo. Visitors were invited to experience the exhibit from sunrise to sunset, merging art, nature, and luxury in a uniquely coastal setting.
During Miami Art Week 2019, Argentinian artist Leandro Erlich created Order of Importance, a striking installation on Miami Beach featuring 66 sand-covered sculptures of cars and trucks arranged in a surreal traffic jam. This large-scale artwork symbolized the urgency of the climate crisis, with the partially buried vehicles evoking the impact of rising sea levels on coastal cities like Miami. Commissioned by the City of Miami Beach, the installation spanned two rows of "submerged" vehicles divided by a sandy traffic divider, blending surreal beauty with environmental advocacy. Erlich’s work served as both a contemporary Pompeii-like relic and a call to action for immediate climate solutions. The temporary installation, designed to naturally disintegrate, was celebrated for its poetic engagement with one of the most pressing issues of our time.
During Art Basel Miami Beach in December 2015, Visionaire 65 FREE, with creative direction by Bureau Betak, transformed Faena Art Beach into a public art hub. Featuring works by 36 renowned contemporary artists—including Miley Cyrus, Marilyn Minter, and Mickalene Thomas—the activation offered thousands of large-format posters free to visitors, allowing art lovers to curate their own collections. Visionaire 65 FREE marked a groundbreaking moment in democratizing art, connecting beachgoers and the swimwear industry with a vision of beauty, inclusivity, and star power.
Dutch artist Theo Jansen brought his lifelike Strandbeests to Miami Beach during Art Week 2014, showcasing their ability to move autonomously using wind energy and innovative “wind stomachs.” These intricate creations, made from PVC pipes and plastic bottles, mimic the movements of insects and crabs while highlighting the intersection of art, science, and environmental awareness. Originally designed to stabilize the Dutch coastline against rising sea levels, the Strandbeests have evolved into self-sufficient sculptures that can sense water and anchor themselves in storms. The event emphasized the fragile connection between humanity and nature, set against the backdrop of Miami Beach’s own environmental challenges.
