Mexican designers Héctor Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena see themselves more as “problem solvers” than designers.
On Thursday, in a public talk held at the Ackland Art Museum in conjunction with the Arts Everywhere initiative, Cadena explained how the pair find inspiration in human interaction, nature and scientific innovation. They apply this inspiration to solve the problems of their clients.
When working with the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, Esrawe and Cadena noticed a problem that they wanted to solve. They saw how the majority of people were not engaging with the museum and the large outdoor space that was open to the public.
“People were afraid of culture,” Cadena said.
A solution for this problem? The colorful installation almost identical to that which has been on the front steps of the Ackland since the spring.
Esrawe and Cadena spent about six months working on the first iteration of "Los Trompos," which consisted of thirty pieces, for the High Museum.
The name itself, "Los Trompos," translates to “the spinning tops,” and the creators visualized the concept as a metaphor for a toy. Esrawe and Cadena drew inspiration for the colors from their bright Mexican culture. Now, they have shared their creation with different communities across the country.
“They were conceptualized to be put in public space, not as objects of art, but as objects producing human interaction,” Cadena said. “In a way, it comes alive when you use it.”
This may ring true, especially for UNC students who were present on campus when the installation arrived. For sophomore Hannah Levy, "Los Trompos" was an appreciated addition to campus life.
