In his early exhibitions, Rui Chafes showed site-specific sculpture. A single construction would fill the gallery, leaving only the necessary space for the circulation of the viewers. Some of these constructions had interiors that were large enough to be entered. Materially, they often contrasted “natural” elements, such as bamboo and wood, with “artificial” ones, such as plastic. The play of different materials was determined by the relation between structural form and the surface, and the total effect was enhanced by the choice of color, texture, and illumination.

Chafes’ installations correspond