Marta Minujin, at her Agora de la Paz

Plaza Alemania, Buenos Aires (2013)

Some artists cherish the participation of the public as an essential part of their work. One of those artists is Marta Minujin (1941) and a few days ago she proved her enormous ability to summon people with her new site-specific and brief happening at the Plaza Alemania in Buenos Aires: the Ágora de la Paz, "the main square of peace".
Similar to the Parthenon, which she constructed in 1983 using books banned by the military, the ágora, also a classic structure, was covered by 25.000 books in plastic bags. Specially edited by Minujín, each one contains 180 famous quotes about peace, friendship and freedom. Through the quotes, the ágora wants us to understand the importance of reading and comprehension in democracy so that we can fully participate in the government of the people and for the people. While it lasted, the structure served as stage for lectures and presentations. 

From afar, the colors of the covers, in pink and yellow, are similar to those Minujin has been repeating on previous years. Those hues ressemble the ones used on the works made with mattresses, so pop and femenine at the same time.

Colchón, by Marta Minujin (1964)

Technique: acrylic, rubber foam and fabric / Measures: 160 x 88 x 24 cm - MNBA