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By exploring scale, color, and non-traditional materials, as well as performance and video, Joana Vasconcelos defies established contemporary notions or programmed daily routines offering an intimate yet critical vision of our contemporary society. Especially issues that concern female status, class differentiation, or national identity.
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Joana Vasconcelos is all this and so much more. She rejects labels and yet is capable of communicating, inspiring and even entertaining spectators from all over the world and different cultural backgrounds. She accepts nothing less than grandeur, she is not afraid to speak her mind while at the same time explores traditional ancient Portuguese arts and crafts through her astonishing artistic creations. And perhaps it was this care and love for Portuguese traditions allied with out-of-this-world interpretations of such pertinent contemporary issues that gave her her greatest achievement of all time so far: to be the first woman and youngest artist to exhibit at Versailles Palace in 2012 \u2013 which became the most visited exhibition in Paris in the last 50 years, welcoming over 1.6 million people. And this is why Joana Vasconcelos\u2019 work has a special place in our \u201cLove Happens\u201d world, and why we are so thrilled to share her with you!
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Lilicopt\u00e8re, 2012<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Lilicopt\u00e8re,](\"https:\/\/www.lovehappensmag.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Joana-Vasconcelos_Lilicopt\u00e8re-1-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/a>Lilicopt\u00e8re, 2012
Bell 47 helicopter, ostrich feathers, Swarovski crystals, gold leaf, industrial paint, dyed leather upholstery embossed with fine gold, Arraiolos rugs, walnut wood, wood grain painting, passementerie. 300 x 274 x 1265 cm<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis is the \u201cpi\u00e8ce de r\u00e9sistance\u201d of Joana Vasconcelos\u2019 work. The delicacy and elegance of beautiful pink feathers carefully applied one by one on the rough structure of a Bell 47 helicopter covered with gold leaf and crystals. In this piece, the artist explores several traditional Portuguese arts and crafts such as the Arraiolos rugs placed inside the helicopter, often used in cars, the woodgrain painting and the sumptuous embroidered upholstery featuring Marie Antoinette’s initials. From a different perspective, the viewer can also appreciate the underlying homage to the real inspirations behind mankind\u2019s ambition to fly\u2014animals with wings and feathers– and the future meets the past.
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Cora\u00e7\u00e3o Independente Dourado (Golden Independent Heart), 2004<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Cora\u00e7\u00e3o](\"https:\/\/www.lovehappensmag.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Joana-Vasconcelos_Cora\u00e7\u00e3o-Independente-Dourado-683x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>Cora\u00e7\u00e3o Independente Dourado (Golden Independent Heart), 2004
Translucid plastic cutlery, painted iron, metal chain, motor, power supply unit, sound installation. 385 x 225 x 50 cm<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOne of Joana Vasconcelos’s most famous works, this piece beautifully portrays the \u201cportugality\u201d concept she loves to explore. From ordinary plastic cutlery to the most beautiful Cora\u00e7\u00e3o de Viana (heart of Viana)\u2014an iconic piece of traditional Portuguese filigree\u2014Joana exposes here the artificiality of the fragile boundaries that separate luxury and banality.
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Solit\u00e1rio, (Solitaire) 2018<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Solit\u00e1rio,](\"https:\/\/www.lovehappensmag.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Joana-Vasconcelos_Solit\u00e1rio.jpg\")
<\/a>Solit\u00e1rio, (Solitaire) 2018
18” light alloy golden wheel rims, crystal whiskey glasses, metalized and thermo-lacquered iron, stainless steel, tempered and laminated glass. 720 x 604 x 209 cm<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more we look at this piece the more messages we seem to interpret. For the most innocent eye, it would seem Solit\u00e1rio is simply a symbol of love and commitment represented here as a giant engagement ring. Conversely, if you look closely you could easily spot two of the seven sins: gluttony and lust. For the artist, however, this piece presents two of the most stereotyped symbols of a female and male desire\u2014diamonds and luxury cars\u2014also provoking the viewer to reflect on social consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
I’ll Be Your Mirror, 2018<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"I'll](\"https:\/\/www.lovehappensmag.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Joana-Vasconcelos_I\u2019ll-Be-Your-Mirror-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/a> I’ll Be Your Mirror, 2018
Bronze, mirrors. 356 x 682 x 537 c<\/em>m<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe title of this piece is taken from the homonymous song written by Lou Reed and interpreted by the Velvet Underground & Nico, and perhaps one of Joana\u2019s most unpretentious works of all: it intends to induce the viewer to reflect, like a mirror, on one’s true \u201cself\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWords by Sara\u00a0Almeida<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nArticle Originally Appeared in Love Happens Volume 4<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>Bell 47 helicopter, ostrich feathers, Swarovski crystals, gold leaf, industrial paint, dyed leather upholstery embossed with fine gold, Arraiolos rugs, walnut wood, wood grain painting, passementerie. 300 x 274 x 1265 cm<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This is the \u201cpi\u00e8ce de r\u00e9sistance\u201d of Joana Vasconcelos\u2019 work. The delicacy and elegance of beautiful pink feathers carefully applied one by one on the rough structure of a Bell 47 helicopter covered with gold leaf and crystals. In this piece, the artist explores several traditional Portuguese arts and crafts such as the Arraiolos rugs placed inside the helicopter, often used in cars, the woodgrain painting and the sumptuous embroidered upholstery featuring Marie Antoinette’s initials. From a different perspective, the viewer can also appreciate the underlying homage to the real inspirations behind mankind\u2019s ambition to fly\u2014animals with wings and feathers– and the future meets the past.
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Cora\u00e7\u00e3o Independente Dourado (Golden Independent Heart), 2004<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Cora\u00e7\u00e3o Independente Dourado (Golden Independent Heart), 2004
Translucid plastic cutlery, painted iron, metal chain, motor, power supply unit, sound installation. 385 x 225 x 50 cm<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOne of Joana Vasconcelos’s most famous works, this piece beautifully portrays the \u201cportugality\u201d concept she loves to explore. From ordinary plastic cutlery to the most beautiful Cora\u00e7\u00e3o de Viana (heart of Viana)\u2014an iconic piece of traditional Portuguese filigree\u2014Joana exposes here the artificiality of the fragile boundaries that separate luxury and banality.
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Solit\u00e1rio, (Solitaire) 2018<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Solit\u00e1rio, (Solitaire) 2018
18” light alloy golden wheel rims, crystal whiskey glasses, metalized and thermo-lacquered iron, stainless steel, tempered and laminated glass. 720 x 604 x 209 cm<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more we look at this piece the more messages we seem to interpret. For the most innocent eye, it would seem Solit\u00e1rio is simply a symbol of love and commitment represented here as a giant engagement ring. Conversely, if you look closely you could easily spot two of the seven sins: gluttony and lust. For the artist, however, this piece presents two of the most stereotyped symbols of a female and male desire\u2014diamonds and luxury cars\u2014also provoking the viewer to reflect on social consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
I’ll Be Your Mirror, 2018<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/a> I’ll Be Your Mirror, 2018
Bronze, mirrors. 356 x 682 x 537 c<\/em>m<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe title of this piece is taken from the homonymous song written by Lou Reed and interpreted by the Velvet Underground & Nico, and perhaps one of Joana\u2019s most unpretentious works of all: it intends to induce the viewer to reflect, like a mirror, on one’s true \u201cself\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWords by Sara\u00a0Almeida<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nArticle Originally Appeared in Love Happens Volume 4<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>Translucid plastic cutlery, painted iron, metal chain, motor, power supply unit, sound installation. 385 x 225 x 50 cm<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One of Joana Vasconcelos’s most famous works, this piece beautifully portrays the \u201cportugality\u201d concept she loves to explore. From ordinary plastic cutlery to the most beautiful Cora\u00e7\u00e3o de Viana (heart of Viana)\u2014an iconic piece of traditional Portuguese filigree\u2014Joana exposes here the artificiality of the fragile boundaries that separate luxury and banality.
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Solit\u00e1rio, (Solitaire) 2018<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Solit\u00e1rio, (Solitaire) 2018
18” light alloy golden wheel rims, crystal whiskey glasses, metalized and thermo-lacquered iron, stainless steel, tempered and laminated glass. 720 x 604 x 209 cm<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more we look at this piece the more messages we seem to interpret. For the most innocent eye, it would seem Solit\u00e1rio is simply a symbol of love and commitment represented here as a giant engagement ring. Conversely, if you look closely you could easily spot two of the seven sins: gluttony and lust. For the artist, however, this piece presents two of the most stereotyped symbols of a female and male desire\u2014diamonds and luxury cars\u2014also provoking the viewer to reflect on social consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
I’ll Be Your Mirror, 2018<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/a> I’ll Be Your Mirror, 2018
Bronze, mirrors. 356 x 682 x 537 c<\/em>m<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe title of this piece is taken from the homonymous song written by Lou Reed and interpreted by the Velvet Underground & Nico, and perhaps one of Joana\u2019s most unpretentious works of all: it intends to induce the viewer to reflect, like a mirror, on one’s true \u201cself\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWords by Sara\u00a0Almeida<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nArticle Originally Appeared in Love Happens Volume 4<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>18” light alloy golden wheel rims, crystal whiskey glasses, metalized and thermo-lacquered iron, stainless steel, tempered and laminated glass. 720 x 604 x 209 cm<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
The more we look at this piece the more messages we seem to interpret. For the most innocent eye, it would seem Solit\u00e1rio is simply a symbol of love and commitment represented here as a giant engagement ring. Conversely, if you look closely you could easily spot two of the seven sins: gluttony and lust. For the artist, however, this piece presents two of the most stereotyped symbols of a female and male desire\u2014diamonds and luxury cars\u2014also provoking the viewer to reflect on social consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
I’ll Be Your Mirror, 2018<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/a> I’ll Be Your Mirror, 2018
Bronze, mirrors. 356 x 682 x 537 c<\/em>m<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe title of this piece is taken from the homonymous song written by Lou Reed and interpreted by the Velvet Underground & Nico, and perhaps one of Joana\u2019s most unpretentious works of all: it intends to induce the viewer to reflect, like a mirror, on one’s true \u201cself\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWords by Sara\u00a0Almeida<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nArticle Originally Appeared in Love Happens Volume 4<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>Bronze, mirrors. 356 x 682 x 537 c<\/em>m<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The title of this piece is taken from the homonymous song written by Lou Reed and interpreted by the Velvet Underground & Nico, and perhaps one of Joana\u2019s most unpretentious works of all: it intends to induce the viewer to reflect, like a mirror, on one’s true \u201cself\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Words by Sara\u00a0Almeida<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Article Originally Appeared in Love Happens Volume 4<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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