Faena Festival's Second Edition in Miami: Buddha of Incense and The Last Supper

The second edition of the Faena Festival opened Art Week in Miami Beach on Monday evening, with a program titled 'The Last Supper' curated by Zoe Lukov. Compared to the debut, performances were replaced by conferences, debates, video art screenings, meditation, and yoga. The theme explores connections between food and spirituality. Argentine artist Gabriel Chaile created 'Renacimiento', terracotta figures functioning as ovens, used for a bread-baking ceremony. Nigerian artist Emeka Ogboh brewed a dark beer called 'The Last Supper' using local Florida ingredients, served at the opening. Haitian artist Myrlande Constant installed beaded vodou flags titled 'Rasanbleman soupe tout eskòt yo' in the hotel lobby. On the beach, two large Buddha sculptures by Zhang Huan face each other: one in polished aluminum, the other made from 20 tons of incense ash collected from Buddhist temples in Shanghai. The ash Buddha was unveiled during a ceremony with masks lifted to reveal an ephemeral figure. A screen in the sea showed works by Ana Mendieta, Janine Antoni, Osías Yanov & Lulo Demarco, Jamilah Sabur, and Jillian Mayer. In the forum, Sophia Al-Maria created a circular earth installation with a central screen showing abstract video, part of 'The Limerent Object' series. The Propeller Group presented a video on funeral rites. Despite a less spectacular opening than the first edition, the event was well-attended.