Emmett Moore: The Grotto

In an ongoing investigation into the relationship between art, architectural systems and human representation of the natural world, Emmett Moore presents The Grotto. Part fiction, part reality, The Grotto is an immersive installation comprised of a series of faux coral boulders sculpted into a secluded lounge inspired by coral rock quarries and the mythology surrounding the fictional identities that form around these places, where the young and the marginalized gather to sequester themselves and share pleasures. The Grotto takes cues from local sites such as the Coral Castle and the Venetian Pool where the quarrying of coral rock acquiesced to a mystical landscape, and a fantasy Venetian enclave, respectively. Each a tropical fantasy created by man in an effort to transport visitors to an otherworldly place. Moore hand crafts each piece with an intricate attention to detail, reminiscent of Italian stone carved furnishing, imbedding each piece with coral rock as well as everyday objects such as cellphones, car keys, and lighters, contemporary fossils of items one might lose while communing amongst the boulders. The Grotto is part pavilion, part folly, where one can escape from everyday life.