A Fake Pool Makes A Splash All Over The World.

Initially conceived of 12 years ago, the 'fake' swimming pool by Argentinian artist Leandro Erlich, known for his illusion-like installations, has been featured at various museums around the world. In 2001, it was featured at the 49th Venice Biennale in Arentina. In 2004, it found a permanent home at the 21st Century Art Museum in Kanazawa, Japan. In 2008, the fake pool was set up for a 2 year installation at MoMA's PS1 Contemporary Art Center. And as of December 2010, the pool was being installed in the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, Australia.

In Japan:




For the long-term exhibit at the P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, he constructed a full-size pool [20 x 9 7/8 x 10 feet (600 x 280 x 300 cm)], complete with a surrounding deck [the installation in Japan's museum does not have a wood deck], underwater pool lights and ladder.



When one first approached upon the amazingly surreal piece from the ground floor, it appeared that people, fully clothed, were standing underwater, alive and engaged in conversation, on the floor of what appeared to be a very real swimming pool.




However, when examining the pool from underneath, one sees that it's actually empty and the illusion of the water-filled space is achieved by his placing a large piece of transparent laminated glass suspended over the pool atop which lies some actual water.





The interior of the pool's walls are painted aqua to further add to the illusion.


One enters through pool through the opening shown below:


Here are the installation photos of the pool's latest appearance at The Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, Australia:



Artist's Bio [courtesy of Sean Kelly Gallery]


Leandro Erlich was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1973. At age 20, he won a grant from the Antorchas Foundation to take an advanced sculpture and installation workshop under the direction of Luis F. Benedit and Pablo Suárez. Between 1998 and 1999 he took part in the Core Program, an artist-in-residence program in Houston, Texas, U.S.

In 1999 he moved to New York and presented his first exhibition in a commercial New York gallery. Over the next two years he participated in the Whitney Biennial and represented Argentina at the 49th Venice Biennale (2001).

Erlich's works are in several private and public collections including the Museum of Modern Art, Buenos Aires; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Tate Modern, London; Musee d'Art moderne, Paris; 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan; MACRO, Rome; and The Israel Museum, Jerusalem; Fonds national d'art contemporain (FNAC), Paris.

Erlich lives and works in Paris, France, and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

images and info courtesy of the following:
The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan
MoMA PS1
Somethingstartedcrazy on Flickr
Building process photos in Brisbane by Natasha Harth courtesy of 21c blog

Relax Like Royalty In This Moroccan-Style Rental Home On The Island Of Bequia

The Mangwana House (also known as The Bequia House) designed by Edgley Design is a large modern and inviting home in a stunning locale, available for rent or for photoshoots through Grenadine Escape.



The five bedroom villa is situated on a steep hillside in dense forest on the island of Bequia in the Caribbean with breathtaking views.





The design is inspired by traditional Moroccan courtyard houses, where a series of intimate spaces surround water, providing shelter from the sun throughout the day and cooling humidity from the pool.







Each bedroom tower has a living space below and a private access stair.




To the north of the courtyard a large hall provides eating and dining areas, and creates a sequence of spaces from a delicate balcony entrance suspended high over the treetops, through the public hall to the private towers beyond.




This stunning home sleeps a max of 12, is located between Friendship Bay and Lower Bay, Bequia and is a 7 minute drive to the beachfront. It has spectacular 300 degree views over the Grenadines, and an incredibly inviting Infinity pool that faces south.



You enter Mangwana at mezzanine level directly into a vast living area with vaulted ceiling, open- plan kitchen and magnificent 16 ft high Brazilian hardwood doors which in turn open onto the pool and frame one of the villa’s many stunning views. Rental includes maid service and the use of a Jeep.




Winter Rate DECEMBER 1 - APRIL 15 (7 nights min.) : USD $12,500 per week
Summer Rate APRIL 16 - NOVEMBER 30 (5 nights min.) : USD $10,000 per week

For more details about the booking the house, as well as more images, visit Grenadine Escape.

Dive Into The World's Deepest Pool. Nemo 33 In Brussels.

Looking to learn to Scuba Dive? Get certified? Practice dives? Why not start with NEMO 33 in Brussels, the deepest swimming pool in the world? The 33 meter (105 feet) deep pool is designed for exactly that.

The pool was designed by diving expert John Beernaerts and architect Sebastian Morena-Vacca, who wanted to create a space in Belgium for divers to use as there wasn't one there before. Opened in 2004, it has become a tourist attraction as well as a teaching and practice facility.

The water is warm and has an automated filtering system. The pool has no chemicals, so there's no chlorine smell. There are 2 pools, 2 pits (5, 10 and 33 m), caves at -10m, three permanent belles of air under pressure (-9m, -7m, air renewed permanently); 250 anchoring points in the tank to: change the aspect of the swimming pool (for the amateurs), adapt it for film shooting, adapt it for scientists and technicians.

There are also heated changing rooms, separated for men and women, separate showers and separate toilets. The pool is filled with 2,500,000 liters of non-chlorinated, highly filtered spring water maintained at 30 °C (86 °F) and contains several simulated underwater caves at the 10 m depth level.




The diving pool is open to everyone from serious open water divers, deep sea advanced divers and beginners. Tourists, parties and more are welcome as well. Nemo 33 also features a restaurant, aquagym classes, hydrotherapy, deep sea diving, group packages and more.

To dive in the deepest pool you must be at least 12 years of age and accompanied by an instructor.












The adjoining restaurant and bar peeks into the pool via windows:




NEMO 33 is open 365 days a year, go here for reservations or more info. (Unfortunately the website is not available in English, despite indicating that it is).



NEMO 33
Rue de Stalle 333 (Rond-point des Menhirs)
1180 Uccle (Bruxelles) - Belgique
Téléphone : +32-2-332.33.34
EMail : dive@nemo33.com

photos are courtesy of the NEMO site and underwater photographer Michel Braunstein