PAMM
Next to the roar of the Biscayne Bay causeway is a “Stiltsville” structure inspired by Florida mangroves. It’s home to the Pérez Art Museum Miami, designed by @herzogdemueron who know a thing or two about making great cultural centres.
Like all good museums, it’s big, sprawling and understated inside — making it a perfect home for the large and often colourful works on display.
Since 1984 @pamm has gone through a few name and location changes, but it’s focus has always been modern and contemporary. The permanent collection is heavily weighted towards Latin American, African, Caribbean and Cuban art, reflecting Miami's cultural diversity, as captured in some amazing portraiture by @KehindeWiley (Image 2) and @GiselaMcDaniel (Image 4).
I particularly loved the deep framing and sculptural depth to Gisela’s work, resulting from the application of seeds and other ‘found objects’ — which is an often misleading panel description. Items like encrusted rhinestones (Image 6, @MickaleneThomas ) or electrical wires (Image 5, #EliasSime ) are often intentionally used by artists as a way to convey social or environmental issues close to their heart.
All works are comprehensively documented — in English and Spanish — which proved invaluable to understand some of the more ambitious socio-political pieces. A reactionary installation tackling race and class in Brazil (Image 8, @JonathasdeAndrade ) and bricks made from Rio Grande clay to address Mexican immigration (Image 9 background, #TeresaMargolles) distinctly stood out.
There are big issues and REALLY big works — Images 1 ( @GlennLigon ) and 10 ( #MelekoMokgosi ) — and occasionally the art doesn’t convey much more than beauty and intrigue.
You could spend hours imaging who might have once worn the ghostly floating kaftans by @kevinmbeasley (Image 9, foreground) and I personally could have sat and stared all day at the abstract works of #GabrielOrozco (Image 3) and #SamGilliam (Image 7).
There’s so much great art on display I could have easily posted another 10 pics.
Visit https://www.pamm.org or @pamm on Instagram