Date: April 24
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: The Art Dome House – Cra. 18a #39b – Bogotá, Colombia.
Starting from Scraps
Among the artists at The Art Dome, Jorge Magyaroff’s career is one of the most intricate, marked by a vast range of techniques and explorations over the years. But one of the defining features of Magyaroff’s work is his innovative use of materials: he specializes in recycling the remnants of past projects into new masterpieces.
While his background in traditional painting and design-oriented artworks is well-established, Magyaroff has discovered a deep passion for transforming scraps—those leftover materials from more industrial and conventional methods—into unique works of art.
Over the years, Magyaroff has demonstrated the remarkable versatility of recycled materials in his creations, from paintings and sculptures to mixed media works. What others might dismiss as “trash,” Magyaroff has shown to be full of life and potential, capable of being repurposed into something extraordinary.
Through this ongoing exploration, Jorge began to ponder a deeper question: Why does “art” always leave behind so much scrap that still holds the potential to be repurposed? This thought led him to take the process of upcycling beyond his studio and into his home, where he began to see how everyday leftovers, no matter how insignificant, seemed to cling to life, always finding their way into new forms.
One day, after breakfast, Jorge fused the leftover remnants of his meal—eggshells and other scraps—with materials from his workshop. The result? A nest made of broken golden eggs, symbolizing how life always manages to seep through the cracks, even from the discarded remnants of art.
This experience led Magyaroff to a profound realization: Art requires a form of protection—a structure like the home. Yet, the house itself is fragile, easily falling into disarray. However, when these two elements—art and home—come together, they become stronger. The house of the artist is held up by the very scraps that remain after creation.
A Household Made of Paper and String
When we invited Jorge to create an exhibition for The Art Dome house in Bogotá, Colombia, he dove deep into the concept of the “fragile house.” His vision turned our current base of operations into a reimagined space, one where memories of a home—playing, building, cleaning—came alive through art. In this exhibition, these seemingly trivial actions were transformed into powerful pieces that reflect the fragility of what we take for granted.
Jorge speaks about how a house is not just built from material; it is also shaped by the history of generations. He compares it to the tape residue on his workshop wall, which stays there for years, only to be removed and turned into part of a new artwork. This exploration into the protection we find at home begins with the very walls that surround us. Jorge’s walls, made of thin paper, are just as strong as brick when taped together, symbolizing how even the most delicate materials—whether used in everyday life or in creating art—can provide the same security as a concrete wall.
By transforming these fragile materials into objects of protection and creation, Jorge’s vision becomes clear: our home is not just a place to live but a sanctuary built by the artist’s hands. It’s a space where safety meets creativity, where scraps are transformed into objects that protect us, physically and mentally.
The Tools That Keep Us Safe
Jorge’s new collection, Vestigios, is centered around household objects—those everyday items that help make a home feel safe. Whether it’s the glasses we drink from, the umbrella that shields us from the rain, or the broom that sweeps away dust, these objects are essential to our sense of security.
Jorge takes the familiar forms of these objects and recreates them using materials found in his workshop, blending the fragile with the protective. His work forces us to question: What truly makes us feel safe? Is it the shape of the tools, the materials they are made from, or what they represent in our daily lives?
The First Step in Vestigios
As you step into Vestigios, you enter a house that feels familiar, like a safe space—until you look closer. At first glance, you might notice a cloth hanging on the patio and tools carefully arranged along the walls. Beautiful glasses, cups, and pitchers wait for the family to gather around the dinner table.
But as you get closer, you realize that these objects are not what they seem. The tools are connected by strings, the clothing in the house is made from thin paper, and the glassware is actually repurposed tape molded into delicate forms.
As you move deeper into this reimagined home, you encounter unfinished walls that seem solid at first, but you soon discover they’re made from paper, disguised as bricks. Behind these paper “bricks,” you’ll find a nest, created from the remnants of the paper walls, filled with broken golden eggs—a powerful symbol of life emerging from the discarded scraps.
Upon returning to the main room, you notice that the floral decorations on the table are made from the same paper as the clothing, while on the floor, leftover tape has been transformed into a soccer ball. It’s in these moments that the true strength of art reveals itself: When we play with the form of our home and examine the fragility of the objects that keep us safe, we see the true purpose of art—transforming scraps, whether from materials or memories, into something meaningful.
And that’s when you know you’ve entered Vestigios—where the remnants of life, art, and history come together to create something new.