Fundación Casa Wabi is an idyllic artist’s retreat by Tadao Ando. In essence, the foundation aims to promote collaboration and social commitment through art. Casa Wabi is located in Mexico’s stunning Pacific Oaxaca coastline.
Casa Wabi by Tadao Ando
I find it absolutely fascinating altogether – the combination of the ocean, art, community driven purpose, lush nature, and marvelous Tadao Ando architecture.
– Tijana, the Founder of Zest & Curiosity
The foundation adopts its name from “Wabi-Sabi” – a concept to emphasize the world focusing on the acceptance of the ephemeral and the imperfect.
Renowned Pritzker winning architect Tadao Ando designed Casa Wabi to demonstrate this philosophy. The foundation was designed to create a space conducive to artistic interaction. As a result, Casa Wabi is planned as the place where art residents and the communities of the region come together.
Meditation Room at Casa Wabi
Casa Wabi by Tadao Ando is his signature style adopted by local architecture. When this project started Ando did a cement building trial. Yet he wanted the trial building to have a purpose after. Thus, the outcome was a triangular meditation room with a partial opening to the sky.
Casa Wabi Art Colony by Tadao Ando
I like the freedom of letting the mind and soul go on a journey with a work. I have done well in my career, so I feel an obligation to give back to my country, and to Puerto Escondido, one of the places I love the most. We need to be more connected with the people around us, with all human beings, and with nature.
– Bosco Sodi, the Founder, Casa Wabi Foundation
The building provides a home for the Casa Wabi Foundation. It’s an arts charity established by Mexican artist Bosco Sodi and directed by Patricia Martin. In fact, she is best known as the curator of Latin America’s largest private art collection.
In order to contrast the clean lines of concrete walls, the roof is covered with layers of dried Royal Palm tree leaves. Palm leaves are commonly used in the region. They provide shelter while also allowing natural ventilation.
Art at Casa Wabi – Tadao Ando
Bosco Sodi Installation
This is a piece of land art by the Mexican artist Bosco Sodi. The monumental structures illustrate and the strength of the human perspective facing nature.
When visitors enter through the clay cubes, the variations of light, the power of the ocean, and the vegetation spring between the bricks are framed dramatically.
Sodi makes each cube with 1,600 handmade bricks. The process uses local clay and ancestral burning methods. In fact, 64 cubes of clay compose the entire installation.
To me, the most important part in the creation of an artwork is the process. The act of researching and experimenting with materials is the most joyful part of the workflow. I still believe in the essence of material and the accidents involved in working with organic material like rocks and other raw materials.
– Bosco Sodi, The artist and the Founder of Casa wabi Foundation
Uma Boa Ordem Pavilion
This original Pavillion is the result of the collaboration by artists Lucia Koch and Héctor Zamora. The work was presented for the first time in 2006 during the Sao Paolo Biennale. Artists play with a contrast between porous brick and lush scenery. The result is a stunning open-air installation for visitors to enjoy.
Indoor Exhibition Space of Casa Wabi – Tadao Ando
Lawrence Weiner
In brief, Lawrence Weiner is an American conceptual artist. He is one of the key figures in the formation of conceptual art in the 1960s. Weiner’s work often takes the form of typographic texts which in this case he used for Casa Wabi.
Art Residencies at Casa Wabi
Art Residents, local and international, can develop their work through the interaction with other art disciplines and also with the members of the local communities. Their creative production certainly has a noble interest in generating activities or projects meaningful for social benefit and development of the region.
You can see current works here and also the marvelous past art resident works here.
A Word from the Founder, Zest & Curiosity
Edgar and I have been delighted to discover that we are both passionate Tadao Ando fans! I once traveled to Japan just to see Ando’s masterful building – Church of the Light. It’s minimalistic, yet poignant design impacted me profoundly. I was so excited to see Ando’s architecture next to the spectacular Oaxaca coastline through Edgar’s aerial photography.
Also, I loved the purpose of the Casa Wabi Foundation to foster artistic collaboration and creativity in such a beautiful setting. Of course, I added this location to my bucket list.
For more of amazing aerial videography by Edgar Gonz, from VOL.VER estudio, check the company’s Instagram.
Dear reader, enjoy the iconic architecture by Tadao Ando. And above all, in the important work of the Casa Wabi Foundation.
– Tijana
Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director
Zest & Curiosity