The Brazilian artist Vik Muniz is better known for the way he makes his art than for the art itself. In his latest exhibit, VantagePoint X/Vik Muniz: Garbage Matters, he uses photography, drawing and digital elements to mix meticulously arranged garbage with artistic sketches. The results are brilliant.
A quick glance at his works doesn’t come close to revealing the fascinating three-dimensional elements with two-dimensional pictorials that create crafty visual illusions. Repurposed materials include soft drink cans, discarded furniture, household items, wires, chocolate and dirt. The details fall together in a Where’s Waldo sort of viewing experience, with so much packed in that it’s a little hard to focus sometimes. But it’s well worth the effort. $5-$10. Gallery hours: Tuesday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St. 704-337-2000. www.mintmuseum.org.
This article appears in Aug 22-28, 2012.
