Através

Através [Through, 1983 - 1989] is among those works of Cildo Meireles, where by means of formal games with everyday materials, the artist deals with broader issues, such as the way in which we perceive space and, ultimately, the world. It is a collection of materials and objects that are commonly used for building barriers, ranging widely in their uses and psychological charge: from a shower curtain to a set of prison bars, including domestic, industrial and institutional products. Always going in pairs, the elements arrange themselves with geometrical rigor on a floor of shattered glass, offering the eye different types of transparency, penetrating the structure from a distance. The body is invited to experience this structure at close quarters, discovering new barriers only to leave them behind. With its labyrinthine layout and sensory experience of discovery, Através (1983 - 1989) and its obstacles allude to the barriers of life itself and our frequent wish—not always entirely clear—to overcome them.