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The Unconventional Pool Art of BENEDETTO BUFALINO
French artist Benedetto Bufalino is creating a sensation on social media with his unique & artistic pool art made from old vehicles.
BY JOE TRUSTY PHOTOS: PASCAL ROSSIGNOL
When we talk about pool art, it’s impossible to have a conversation without mentioning Benedetto Bufalino. He is an artist who has gained recognition for his unique and imaginative use of vehicles in his art installations.
One of Bufalino’s most notable projects is his series of “vehicle pools,” in which he transforms cars and buses into functional swimming pools.
Born in 1978, the french artist has gained a reputation as one of the most innovative and imaginative artists of his generation, with a unique and playful approach to art that engages and delights audiences around the world.
One of the key themes in Bufalino’s work is the idea of transformation and reinvention. He is known for taking ordinary objects and giving them new life and purpose, often in humorous and surprising ways.
Repurposing Old & Discarded Vehicles as Pool Art
One of Bufalino’s latest artistic pool renovations is the conversion of a camper van into a swimming pool. This project involves cutting out the roof and sides of the camper van and installing a liner and filtration system. The result is a small, but fully functional swimming pool that can be used for recreational swimming and other water activities.
Bufalino’s work often blurs the lines between art and performance, with many of his installations involving interactive elements that allow viewers to participate in the experience. He has a particular interest in creating immersive environments that allow people to escape the constraints of their daily lives and enter into a world of imagination and possibility.
These pools are not just your average swimming pools, Bufalino’s work involves cutting into the vehicles, removing the engine, and adding the necessary plumbing and filtration systems to make them suitable for swimming. The result is a truly oneof-a-kind swimming experience, with swimmers able to dive off the roof or lounge on the hood while they take a dip.
Bufalino’s use of old vehicles as the base for his pools is not just a creative decision, but also a commentary on consumerism and waste. By repurposing these old cars and buses, Bufalino is calling attention to the vast amount of waste that is generated by our consumer culture and the throwaway nature of modern society.
This type of art that also serves as a call to action, inviting the viewer to think about how we use and dispose of the things we own. The final result, a swimming pool made from a car, subverts the original function of the object, it also triggers a reflection on how many cars are wasted and how different it would be if we could repurpose them, and how much our consumer culture influences our lives.
These pools have gone viral and garnered attention from around the world for their playful and unconventional nature. In addition to cars and buses, Bufalino has also created vehicle pools out of a tanker truck and a camper van.
Bufalino’s work has been featured in numerous publications and media outlets. In addition to his artistic career, he has also worked as a designer and creative director on a variety of projects, including music videos, advertisements, and live events.
Bufalino’s pool creations are more than just functional swimming pools; they are also works of art that challenge traditional notions of what a pool can be.
By repurposing everyday vehicles into swimming pools, Bufalino creates a sense of surprise and delight that engages the viewer and encourages them to think creatively.
Bufalino distorts our perception of the world by giving commonplace objects surprising new functions in his large-scale installations.
The material combinations are so fantastical and unreal that they seem to belong in the realm of our wildest dreams. He is fascinated by the used and discarded objects all around him. Autos destined for the junkyard and road signs that receive scant attention. Benedetto doesn’t make artwork for museums; instead, his pieces are meant to be experienced
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and interacted with.
Overall, the art of Benedetto Bufalino is a unique and imaginative take on the traditional swimming pool. His use of vehicles as the foundation for his pools adds an element of surprise and playfulness to the experience of swimming, making his work a truly one-of-a-kind artistic experience.