{"id":3000008704,"date":"2020-02-13T12:09:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-13T17:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/?p=3000008704"},"modified":"2020-09-03T05:53:24","modified_gmt":"2020-09-03T09:53:24","slug":"argentinean-artist-connects-with-local-culture-in-wework-mural","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/community-stories\/employee-spotlight\/argentinean-artist-connects-with-local-culture-in-wework-mural","title":{"rendered":"Argentinean artist connects with local culture in WeWork mural"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tourists travel from across the world to walk through the streets of Buenos Aires and see the colorful murals painted on the facades of buildings, public squares, and interior walls of Argentina\u2019s bustling capital. There are more than 400 murals throughout the city, and the artwork, dating back to the 1700s, is closely connected to the architecture and identity of Buenos Aires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When WeWork\u2019s design team<\/a> set out to plan the newly opened WeWork Corrientes 800<\/a>\u2014which is located on Avenida Corrientes, home to many of Buenos Aires\u2019s theaters\u2014they knew that murals and art would play a key role in the identity of the building. \u201cArt makes places more human and thoughtful,\u201d says Roberto Bal\u00e1n<\/a>, a senior art and graphics lead at WeWork who directed the curation and design of WeWork Corrientes 800. Over the past two years, he has led the design for 18 WeWork buildings and collaborated on more than 35. \u201cWe use art to tell a story that resonates with our members,\u201d he says.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Between artist collaborations and in-house designs, WeWork\u2019s art and graphics team has created nearly 1,000 murals that adorn WeWork locations throughout the world, each created with a nod to local culture<\/a>. \u201cOur local teams are always researching stories, the history of the city, and little details that they can then use as concepts for art that someone local can really appreciate,\u201d says Jeremiah Britton, WeWork\u2019s global art director. These stories influence all aspects of the space, from the building\u2019s architecture to the furniture, artwork, and neon signs inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor WeWork Corrientes 800, we wanted to pay homage to the history of artwork that exists in lobbies throughout Buenos Aires,\u201d says Manuel Acevedo, an interior designer who worked alongside Bal\u00e1n to design the building. The city has a long history of artists producing works for building lobbies: Jose Fioravanti, Luis Seoane, Horacio Vodovotz, and Carlos Alonso, among many others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team was inspired by the city\u2019s Renaissance and Art Nouveau architecture and wanted to highlight the historical context of murals in a contemporary way. After researching local artists, they reached out to Hernan Paganini<\/a>, an Argentinean artist who is completing an artist\u2019s residency in Seattle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

For Paganini, the artwork in a space should connect with the culture of its surroundings. \u201cI explore the relationship between the places, history, and politics\u201d before creating the narrative for the artwork, he explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The building that houses WeWork Corrientes 800 was once the location of Teatro Ode\u00f3n (the Odeon Theater). Originally designed by architect Don Emilio Bieckert, Teatro Ode\u00f3n opened in 1892 and hosted Argentina\u2019s first film screening in 1896. The theater was torn down in 1991, and the land was developed into a parking lot to accommodate the growing city. It sits along Avenida Corrientes, a busy street filled with theaters, restaurants, and caf\u00e9s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While designing the rest of the building, WeWork\u2019s art and graphics and interior design teams wanted to pull from the street\u2019s rich history. Bal\u00e1n explains that Avenida Corrientes is \u201call about family, friends, and the porte\u00f1o (those who live in Ciudad Aut\u00f3noma de Buenos Aires) tradition.\u201d They hoped these values would translate not only to the artwork in the building but to how the entire project was conceived. Usually one person from the art and graphics team heads up a project, but \u201cwe wanted participation from every member of the team,\u201d he says.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paganini believes that artwork is more than just beautiful imagery. \u201cArt can build bridges and engage the community,\u201d he says. \u201cArtwork should reflect the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n