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The Beacon and Code Wall
Lake Nona
Orlando, FL 32827, USA
photo credit- macbethphoto.com

THE BEACON AND CODE WALL

Public Artist Jefrë Draws Inspiration
From His Battle With Heart Disease
 
Orlando, Florida – On March 1, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. EST two large-scale artworks titled The Beacon and Code Wall will light up Orlando’s skies with high definition video projections. Conceptualized by international public artist, JEFRË, the permanent installations are located in Lake Nona, an 11-square-mile master-designed community in Orlando that offers residential and commercial facilities.
 
In collaboration with digital artists from New York City’s 3-Legged Dog, Florida-based JEFRË has transformed Lake Nona Town Center’s parking garage into the two giant multimedia installations that were inspired by his battle with heart disease. 

Posted 25 February 2016

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The Beacon envelops one of the corners of the garage where a staircase is located. Its shape was inspired by the world’s first stethoscope. It is hollow inside and its outer layer is composed of aluminum panels with scalloped edges that are a reference to the artist’s EKG line. Cinematic high definition video concepts created by 3-Legged Dog will wrap around the 60-foot sculptural steel enclosure, bringing the structure to life each night. Enclosing the parking garage is Code Wall, a 264-foot-long wall that is punctured with binary code. In this work, JEFRË refers to the language of technology, which incorporates the theme of science that is inspired by the very site of the artwork that is located in Lake Nona’s Medical City. Both artworks reference the crucial roles that the advancements of technology and medicine have played in his life.

photo credit- macbethphoto.com

Born Jefre Manuel Figueras, JEFRË was a landscape architect and designer when had a sudden heart attack at the early age of 35 and had to undergo a triple bypass surgery. The experience caused him to switch his focus from landscape architecture and design to public art and giving back to the community. "I only choose projects that provide value to the surrounding community, and have meaning and purpose," he says. The physical sites of the artworks have a large role to play in the conceptual development, and moreover, the artist is careful to involve the surrounding community in various ways that benefit the area. “Eighty percent of my materials is locally sourced and I always enlist the help of the local community to build and install the works. I ensure that the funding received for the project goes back to the community in some way,” he explains. Artworks like The Beacon and Code Wall demonstrate this fact.

The designers took into account possible interactions between Code Wall and The Beacon as the Code Wall’s dichroic glass panels make it reflective in the sunlight and “even more dynamic” when shot through with light at night. 

photo credit- macbethphoto.com

photo credit- macbethphoto.com

photo credit- macbethphoto.com

photo credit- macbethphoto.com

photo credit- macbethphoto.com

The artist has earned award-winning recognition for his site-specific projects, success that is owed partly to his approach to ‘placemaking.’ “Because of my background in designing public spaces and architecture, I’ve never been interested in creating objects. I create places; it’s not about a single element, it’s about a collection of elements that make a place.”
 
The Chicago native has created public artworks in cities around the world including Miami, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Abu Dhabi, London, and most recently Manila. Despite the health precautions and lifestyle changes post-heart attack, Jefre continues to create public art that resonates with people. Two recently installed works include Talking Heads, a permanent installation in Manila located in a large corporate building that explores the concept of the unknown customer service representative; and Contour Sculpture Series at an upscale shopping mall also located in Manila, which depict four culturally symbolic animals designed to mimic the architecture of the mall’s structure. Both works opened to the public in December 2015.
 
Follow JEFRË @jefre_miami to get live updates on his projects.

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