The Howard Hughes Corporation® (NYSE:HHC) has installed Acrobática, a geometrical, transforming sculpture by world-renowned artist Rafael Barrios in Hughes Landing®, a 66-acre lifestyle destination on Lake Woodlands. Acrobática adorns the adjacent view of Embassy Suites by Hilton at Hughes Landing Boulevard and Constellation Point Drive.
Rafael Barrios is a national and international award-winning artist. His sculpture Nimbus, a smaller piece similar to Acrobática, is situated in the lobby at The Westin at The Woodlands.
Constructed of stainless steel and acrylic lacquer, Acrobática is nine feet, six inches tall by 13 feet, four inches long by four feet wide, weighing 1,760 pounds. From a distance, the sculpture appears to be a composition of three-dimensional, solid rectangular shapes or cuboids, which are delicately balanced on one another. As one approaches the sculpture, the true shape of the sculpture is revealed as two-dimension flat plates with three very slight bends, which form shallow concave shapes.
“Acrobática creates a mirage of images. As one walks by perpendicular to the sculpture, the shapes appear to move and rotate at the connections. These transformations are optical illusions that successfully engage the viewer and elevate the sculpture from pure art to include a bit of magic,” said Robert Heineman, Vice President of Planning for The Howard Hughes Corporation and Director of The Woodlands Art Fund.
Acrobática is the sixth piece of public, outdoor art placed in Hughes Landing with the assistance of Kinzelman Art Consulting. Acrobática joins Wind Waves by Yvonne Domenge; Dream.It.Do It and Inter.nation.all.Waters. by John Runnels; the Band Shell at Hughes Landing, which serves as a piece of art as well as a performance stage; Fenris Glacier, Karale Glacier and Midgard Glacier by Julie Speidel; and Firefly by John Clement.
Robert Heineman and Peter Doyle, Executive Vice President of Strategic Development for The Howard Hughes Corporation, have orchestrated selections of the various sculpture pieces for Hughes Landing with the assistance of Kinzelman Art Consulting.
Peter Doyle commented, “Our vision for Hughes Landing is to simply add dramatic and beautiful pieces of art to this urban, walkable setting. Acrobática complements the contemporary outdoor sculptures currently in Hughes Landing and helps enhance the splendid pieces throughout The Woodlands.”
With the installation of Acrobática, The Woodlands® is home to 58 public, outdoor art pieces along with 14 art benches, installed near The Woodlands Waterway®. Future art benches have been selected by The Woodlands Arts Council to be installed at Hughes Landing in late September as part of the Council’s art bench program in The Woodlands. This latest unveiling is emblematic of The Howard Hughes Corporation’s commitment to art and culture as integral components of expert placemaking.