Artist Highlight: Beatriz Chachamovits
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Meet Beatriz Chachamovits, a multimedia artist and educator whose practice spotlights critical challenges within coral reefs and marine ecosystems at large. Through ceramic sculpture and site-specific installation work, she immerses her audience in these environments, addressing issues ranging from mass bleaching to plastic pollution. In tapping into the sensory experience of marine ecosystems, Beatriz elicits a uniquely impactful sense of empathy and triggers essential dialogues on preservation and human behavior.
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Can you tell us about your artistic practice?
As an artist and educator committed to marine ecosystems, my work fuses art and ecological advocacy to directly connect the audience with pressing challenges, particularly the fragile balance within coral reef ecosystems. Through ceramic sculptures and site-responsive installations, I immerse the public in the intricate coral reef, addressing environmental issues from coral bleaching to plastic pollution.
My multidisciplinary approach blends science, art, and education to raise awareness and evoke empathy. It engages directly with the sensory richness of marine environments, fostering an intimate connection with this concealed world vital for our collective survival. Through this approach, my practice initiates essential dialogues on ecological preservation and human behavior. This exploration enhances our appreciation of our profound relationship with marine ecosystems and their fundamental role in sustaining a balanced planet.
Tell us about a personal artistic project or body of work that you are currently excited about.
I'm extremely excited about my upcoming solo exhibition at The Kampong, which will feature a new body of work, created with support from the Oolite Arts Creator Award. To Have and to Hold reinterprets the traditional European "cabinet of curiosities" to tell the story of Miami's endangered marine ecosystems. Cabinets filled with ceramic marine life replace the need for real specimens. Ocean-inspired lamps illuminate the space, with Art Deco style wallpaper and infographics covering the walls. At the center of the space, tables and chairs create a hub for workshops and discussions.
This project aims to connect the community with hidden underwater worlds vital to Miami's history and identity, emphasizing education as a path to conservation. It aligns seamlessly with my previous works by bridging art, science, and conservation while adding a new historical context. It offers a window into the complex interplay between human curiosity, knowledge acquisition, environmental exploitation, and scientific progress throughout history. Understanding this can inform our approach to conservation, education, and environmental stewardship in our quest for knowledge and preservation.
Tell us about how you have developed as an artist since you began working at Bakehouse.
Over the past four years and a half at Bakehouse Art Complex, my artistic evolution has been profound. Immersed in this vibrant creative hub, my approach to art has expanded significantly. I've transitioned from traditional sculptures to immersive, interactive installations that invite engagement with marine conservation themes. Bakehouse's nurturing environment has encouraged me to experiment boldly, delving deeper into the fusion of science and art. This journey has led me to create larger-scale, emotionally resonant pieces that amplify my impact as an environmental artist and advocate.
Moreover, being a resident artist at Bakehouse has opened incredible opportunities to showcase my work, including prestigious exhibitions at Faena Art, Frost Science Museum, and The Museum of Contemporary Art of North Miami. These experiences not only have widened my artistic reach but also strengthened my commitment to using art as a medium for advocating marine conservation on a larger platform.