Wading in a Faux Pool

Argentine artist Leandro Erlich is the artist behind the “faux pool” installation that has art lovers enthralled all over the world. He’s also known for his photographs which bring a new perspective of external stimuli and elements to everyday life. The installation that was actually created 12 years ago has been presented at the P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center exhibition in New York for the first time.  On that occasion Erlich constructed the “art pool” with all the trappings of a small-dimensioned classic pool, including underwater pool lights, ladders and complete with wooden borders. At first sight, the installation really does look like some kind of magic trick. When you stand over the pool you can see fully dressed people standing under the surface of the water, very much alive but without any special equipment for scuba diving and wrapped up in conversation to boot. Watching this scene you automatically want to jump in, swim or just wade and splash about.

Undoubtedly it’s an incredible illusionist trick, but as is the case with every trick, there’s quite a simple story behind this fake-pool effect. Upon closer examination from its lower side it’s clearly visible that the pool is completely empty. The illusion that it’s filled up with water is achieved by covering the top of the pool with large pieces of laminated glass, then adding just a smidgeon of water on top thus making for an even more realistic experience. The pool’s walls are painted with special paint that amplifies the overall experience.

The installation has been included in the permanent set-up of Japan’s 21^st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa since 2004, while the last exhibition where Erlich presented his installation is the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, Australia last year in December. However, that which possibly disappoints visitors worldwide is the fact that the installation doesn’t look quite the same in every city.
Leandro Erlich was born in Buenos Aires in 1973, and was granted the Antorchas Foundation scholarship when he was 20 (a highly esteemed Argentine scholarship granted to only the best and most talented students). He later moved to New York, where he presented his works at his first independent exhibition at a commercial gallery. Very soon after his first independent exhibition he participated in the Whitney Biennial at the Whitney Museum of American Art, an exhibit of contemporary young talented artists. From that moment on his career took off and he represented his home country, Argentina at the 49^th Venice Biennale in 2001 precisely with the fake pool installation. Today he lives and works between Paris and Buenos Aires.

Without a doubt, this is a very interesting young artist who has validated the quality of his works with several independent and group exhibitions in renowned museums and galleries worldwide – to name but a few: The Museum of Modern Art in Buenos Aires; The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston; the Tate Modern in London; the Musee d’Art Moderne in Paria; the MACRO in Rome; the Israel Museum in Jerusalem; the Fonds National d’Art Contemporain (FNAC) in Paris…