Tomas Saraceno / Jarbas Lopes

CIFO's Residency Program took place in the Fall of 2004, featuring its inaugural recipients: Jarbas Lopes from Brazil and Tomás Saraceno from Argentina. Their project exhibition, which displayed the art created during their time in Miami, was showcased in May 2005. Both artists drew inspiration from the city's defining feature: the beach.

During his residency, Jarbas Lopes created a series of seascapes that were not only visually striking but also infused with playful irony. His work often involves a humorous "deconstruction" of the subjects he explores. For instance, his piece Hurricane (2005) reimagines a kitschy postcard image of palm trees against a picturesque sunset. In contrast, Life Guard Station(2005) takes a more mundane approach, depicting a lifeguard station on a barren beach, while Rafters (2005) features a photograph of Lopes and Saraceno paddling on Key Biscayne Beach.

Tomás Saraceno's contribution, When Spheres Meet Spheres from Miami to Cuba(2005), stands out as his first "site-specific" work for the sea, designed to float on water and in the air. Inspired by bubble formation and interaction dynamics, it reflects a profound insight shared by scientist Brian Charlesworth: "When one bubble meets another, the resulting union is always one of total sharing and compromise. (Human beings could learn a lot from bubbles)."

Both artists, despite their diverse national and artistic backgrounds, responded to the Miami environment in unique and impactful ways. Their work, which serves as a profound exploration of the city's geographic and sociopolitical landscape, reveals the complex beauty and underlying menace of the sea, leaving a lasting impression on the Miami art scene.