BARANEK Frida Artwork
BIBLIOGRAPHY ARTWORKS
Frida Baranek (born 1961) is a Brazilian sculptor known for creating large sculptural works that incorporate fibers and industrial materials such as plates, rods, and iron or steel wires as commentary on industrialization and the environment in Brazil.
She uses heavy tools and mechanical equipment to transform leftover steel sheets and tubes, iron wire, and even airplane parts into abstract sculptures that resemble forms found in the natural world.
The organic appearance of industrial waste is not the only paradox evident in Baranek’s work. Despite the weight of her materials, her delicately woven metal grids and nest-like constructions appear surprisingly light and airy.
By demonstrating that even industrial debris and other discarded materials can have meaning if reused and remade, Baranek’s sculptures lie at the crossroads of two important issues in our world today: environmentalism and recycling.
These ideas are particularly important in her home country of Brazil. In the past 40 years, this largest of South American countries has experienced immense changes related to rapid urbanization and industrialization.