Cloud Cities

Since his impressive debut at the 2009 Venice Biennale, Tomás Saraceno (b. San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, 1973; lives and works in Frankfurt am Main) has been a fixture of the international art scene. In his works, which occupy their exhibition sites like organic structures, he envisions scenarios for possible architectures and the urban planning of the future. Networks resembling spider webs moor the balloon-like spheres, most of which float, in the exhibition space. They look like sprawling plexuses, illustrating a fascinating fusion of art, natural science, and engineering. Over the past several years, Tomás Saraceno has articulated his ideas in a wide range of manifestations. Starting in September 2011, two large exhibitions in Berlin and Düsseldorf will present his work. The book, to be published in conjunction with the shows, illuminates the sources behind his creative production; numerous contributions by international authors offer an initial art-historical assessment.