STARDUST PAVILION| SILVESTRE PESTANA
The Stardust Pavilion, created by Flare Studio, was inspired by the “folly” constructions that were very much in vogue between the 17th and 19th centuries, carried out without functional concerns, but rather for their extravagance or artistic value.
Recently returned from Miami, where it was exhibited in the Design District during Art Basel Miami Beach 23, it has been installed at Dunas, in a prime spot surrounded by pine trees near the development's future reception. Made of glass, mirrors and chrome-plated steel profiles, Stardust creates a magical perception made up of reflections and planes that confuse and multiply into a breathtaking experience.
Inside, three pieces by Silvestre Pestana from the Neurónios series (2017) have been placed, each made up of 5 modeled neon tubes (argon), a perforated aluminium sheet, an automatic voltage variator with 5-second pulses that through technology simulates a vital pulse unfolded ad infinitum across the pavilion's mirrored background, which takes the concept of Stardust to a totally unreal level.
Born in Funchal, Silvestre Pestana (1949-) has a degree in Graphic Arts and Design from ESBAP, 1980, and a master's degree in Teaching Art and Design from De Montford University, 1998. He taught at the School of Education of the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra.
Silvestre Pestana is one of the most radical figures in contemporary Portuguese art. His work stands out due to the radical nature of the interventions which, from the very first moment, are based on an intentional hybridism resulting from the play and permutation between signs and non-linguistic signs.
The contamination which, in the 1960s and 70s, derives from the use of diverse graphic material, will, in the 80s, find support in the use of video and computer media.
At this level, it can be said that his computer poetry opened up new directions for experimental poetry.
Often intentionally mixing issues related to materiality and mediation, in his work procedures based on digital systems appear mixed with analog representation.
His recent performance work in real spaces, luminous writings on LED panels or his virtual poems in Second Life are fundamental.
poems in Second Life, are fundamental for gauging how experimentalist practices interfere with the social practices in which they are articulated.