The
Tomie Ohtake Institute, in partnership with
AkzoNobel, represented by the Coral paint brand in Brazil, delivered, on August 9, the restored work of the artist Tomie Ohtake, located in the Parque do Emissário Submarino, in the city of Santos (SP) .
The steel sculpture, which measures 15 m in height, is a tribute to the centenary of Japanese immigration to Brazil and was inaugurated in 2008 by Prince Naruhito of Japan. The restoration of the sculpture is part of a project to revitalize
five other public works by the artist in São Paulo, Santo André, Santos and Guarulhos. In the process, 72 liters of automotive paint were used to guarantee the original ruby color, as well as the protection against the weather and sea spray.
Tomie Ohtake was invited by the city of Santos to create a landmark for the city. The location where the work is on display, at the tip of Aterro do Emissário, was chosen by the artist herself. The sculpture is visible from Ponta da Praia to São Vicente, from the sea or from the beach avenue. The organic and sinuous lines give a light appearance to the sculpture that weighs around 60 tons. All the weight is supported by the lower part. The project was carried out in collaboration with architects Jorge Utsunomiya and Vera Fujisaki. “Tomie’s art interacts with open spaces, which is why she has been so sought after for public works. This integration with the environment, in the search for making spaces more human and inspiring, that engage with people, is what our cities need. This project meets this need”, comments architect Ricardo Ohtake, president of the Tomie Ohtake Institute.
