Isaac Cordal – Cement Eclipses

Small interventions in the big city

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Spanish artist Isaac Cordal is best known for his miniature-sized street interventions.

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

The artist's most well-known project is "Cement Eclipses", which consists of tiny cement sculptures reproduced using silicone moulds.

The artist's most well-known project is "Cement Eclipses", which consists of tiny cement sculptures reproduced using silicone moulds.

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

The petite figures easily blend into their urban environments and can be seen hiding in gutters and puddles, atop buildings and bus shelters, as well as on city walls worldwide.

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cordal's figures frequently take the shape of balding businessmen and other ordinary figures presented in humorous or absurd situations.

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

For Nuart Festival, Cordal brought his army of tiny statuettes to the streets of Stavanger.

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Standing at less than a foot tall, the figures are easily missed, and the precariousness of the statuettes contribute to the sense of jeopardy concerning the subject's situation.

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Many of the objects were placed on miniature balconies mounted high up on walls, light fixtures and ledges, giving passersby an extra reason to lift their eyes and have another look at their everyday environment.

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

After placing the figures in public, Cordal photographs the work before stepping back to allow the public to decide the faith of the pieces.

Cement Eclipses (September 2015) by Isaac CordalNuart

The artist views the figures as a metaphor for the role of politics, bureaucracy and power in modern society.

Seeing his art practice as a form of combat reflecting contemporary society, he regularly engages with issues such as climate change.

Biography

Born in Galicia, Spain in 1974, Cordal received his degree in sculpture from the University of Fine Arts Pontevedra and was a founding member of a digital art community Alg-a.org. In addition to being an artist, Cordal used to be part of the Spanish death metal scene, publishing the fanzine Exorcism and playing guitar in the band Dismal. He lives in Brussels and Galicia.

Credits: Story

Photography: Ian Cox, Kalevkevad
Design and project management: Studio Bergini
Copy: Erik Sæter Jørgensen

Curated by Martyn Reed for Nuart

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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