Carlos Bunga: The Architecture of Life

Carlos Bunga: The Architecture of Life
Environments, Sculpture, Paintings, Drawings and Films

Architecture povera: the humble and immersive structures of Carlos Bunga

The first monograph on Portugese artist Carlos Bunga (born 1976) presents over a decade of his fantastical sculptural and painterly structures. Bunga uses only cardboard and paint to create immersive installations, furniture-like sculptures and paintings. The Architecture of Life surveys the artist’s sculptures, paintings, films, performances and installations from throughout his career, including the major new works created for his exhibition at the Museum of Art, Architecture, And Technology (MAAT) and Fundação Carmona e Costa in Lisbon.

Whether he is using recycled materials or demolishing his own works, Bunga consistently pursues cycles of construction and destruction, and as a result explores the relationship of a space to its history and the inherent contradiction of the simultaneous impermanence and permanence of art.

This volume features some of the artist’s own reflections on his work and writing from various art critics, writers and curators.

Harcover; 176 pages

About the artist:
Carlos Bunga (b. 1976 Porto) attended the Escola Superior de Arte e Design in Caldas da Rainha in Portugal. He currently lives and works near Barcelona.

Bunga uses mass-produced materials such as cardboard, adhesive tape, and household paint to produce site-specific, process-oriented installations. Emerging from a dialogue with the existing architectural space, these ephemeral structures recall life-size architectural models as well as temporary street shelters. Through his work, Bunga not only encourages viewers to rethink their experience of space and architecture, but also evokes the transient and fragile nature of urban structures.