# Deliberately Dilapidated Art Exhibits The Margarita Cabrera Soft Sculptures are Simple By Vivian Lau | Published 2012-06-22 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/margarita-cabrera-soft-sculptures References: [sweet-station](http://sweet-station.com/blog/2012/06/margarita-cabrera/) & [margaritacabrera](http://www.margaritacabrera.com/?cat=7) When you think of sculptures, you probably imagine a white rock statue of some sort, not some large, soft, drooping pieces as featured in the Margarita Cabrera [Soft Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soft-world-sharp-edges) collection. Incorporating materials like vinyl, thread, wire and sometimes car parts, Margarita Cabrera creates bike, [Jeep](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/highland-base-kerlingarfjll) and toaster models that are run-down in appearance. The internationally worn-down effect is interesting -- it looks similar to how kids are made to look in those 'drink milk' PSAs. As a Mexican-American artist who is also an activist for issues like labor practices and immigration, Cabrera creates a collection that may also comment on the materialistic nature of society. In the capitalist North America, there is no shortage of shiny cars, sleek appliances and technology-charged gadgets, which is the exact opposite image of what is portrayed in her exhibit. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.0/10 - Popularity: 43% | Activity: 9% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Soft Sculptures:** Margarita Cabrera's use of soft materials in sculptures presents opportunities for disrupting traditional sculpting techniques. - **Run-down Aesthetic:** The deliberate use of worn-down appearance in art may inspire industries to explore how this aesthetic can be applied in product design, fashion, or architecture. - **Activist Art:** Margarita Cabrera's art may promote other artists to use their creativity as a medium for expressing political, social, and environmental issues. ### Who This Affects Most - **Art:** Margarita Cabrera's soft sculptures exhibit presents new avenues for art and sculpture industries to explore the use of soft and unconventional materials in their works. - **Product Design:** The run-down aesthetic of the Margarita Cabrera sculptures can inspire opportunities for disruption in the product design industry, potentially presenting a new approach towards materials, form, and function. - **Fashion:** The run-down and soft material aesthetic can inspire fashion designers to think outside the box and experiment with unique and unconventional materials and styles. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Broken-Aesthetic Sculpture Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brokenaesthetic-sculpture-collection.md) - [Sophisticated Upcycled Home Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/basket-sculptures.md) - [Textured Cast Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-scad.md) - [CD-Comprised Towering Art Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stratagems.md) - [Textile Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/olga-de-amaral.md) - [Raunchy Anime-Inspired Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/manuela-soto-sosa.md) - [Intricate Fiber Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/threadwork-women-redefining-fiber-arts.md) - [Upcycled Sculptural Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eps-expanded-polystyrene-serie.md) - [Structured Art Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flowchart.md)