With the exception of a random post from almost two years ago, would you believe this tumblr has never been to Argentina before? Don’t cry for me, cry for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s face. Anyway, south of the capital city of Buenos Aires is the town of Quilmes, home to outsider artist, Rubén “Tito” Ingenieri (you can watch the dreadlocked hippie dude collect bottles in this video). On Avenue 25 de Mayo and Los Naranjos is a house made almost entirely of salvaged bottles, which might have something to do with the fact that Quilmes is home to Argentina’s national beer. It took almost twenty years, but supposedly six million bottles were used in the house’s construction. Hey, I know a few alcoholics who could totally make that happen in less time. Tito’s cave-like house is full of found objects, like bicycles, masks and eyeglasses, that have been re-purposed into sculpture.
Behind the strange structure is a three-story, half-finished iron tower that Tito hopes will one day be a lighthouse. A painted, wooden sign propped up against a pillar on the tower proposes a theater dedicated to the artist and his influences. Although it is not officially open to the public, except by appointment, it is Tito’s desire that the house, lighthouse and theater all be turned into a museum. I fully support the idea as long as they don’t play “99 Bottles of Beer” in the visitor center. You gotta give the guy credit for being creative and taking recycling to a whole new level. I bet most of you probably complain when you have to open a bottle, let alone recycle it. Jeez.
