Jaime and Javier Suárez Berrocal

Wish Towers marks the return of the Contemporary Arts Program to Vizcaya. Inspired by the native coral limestone that was used extensively in the creation of the gardens, Jaime and Javier Suárez explore how art and nature intersect at Vizcaya. They have created a modular sculpture made of fossilized coral collected from Puerto Rico’s shores. The sun-bleached coral is turned into unique pieces that link together, creating vertical structures described by the artists as stalagmites. Functioning as a nurturing vessel for mangrove propagules that can be watered with public participation, Jaime and Javier’s installation responds to the ongoing challenges posed by climate change, including sea level rise and increases in seawater temperature, and thus honoring Vizcaya’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

Twin brothers Jaime and Javier Suárez Berrocal were born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1982 and raised in Puerto Rico, where they were exposed to ceramics, woodworking and fishing from an early age. Their passion for the arts and the ocean guides their interest in environmental forms of expression. They create artistic interventions in nature to bring awareness to ecological concerns, define cultural identity, inspire a feeling of belonging and encourage responsibility for the natural world around us. They completed a BA in Fine Art at the University of Puerto Rico (2007 and 2008) and obtained MFA degrees in Artistic Production with a focus on Public Art (2010) from the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Spain. They live in Puerto Rico and work collaboratively, guided by the tenets of their artistic manifesto, VientreCompartido (SharedWomb).