US: Sand cars replace sand castles at Miami art festival Art Basel

Miami Beach, United States: On Miami Beach, more than 60 cars sculpted out of sand are drawing attention at this year's Art Basel international festival, but the aim of their creator is as much about raising awareness of climate change as tickling art lovers' palates.

The sand cars, which form what looks like a traffic jam sinking into the world-famous beach, have proven a favorite with visitors who snap selfies in front of the installation, entitled 'Order of Importance' and created by 46-year-old Argentine sculptor Leandro Erlich.

Erlich told reporters Monday the work is a reflection on the crisis the world is facing due to climate change and "our responsibility, our implication in the events that are starting to happen to the planet."

Leandro Erlich in front of his temporary installation 'Order of Importance' in Miami Beach, Florida.

The title "has to do with understanding what our priorities are right now and thinking about our future," he said.

A car made with sand is seen on the temporary installation 'Order of Importance' from the artist Leandro Erlich in Miami Beach, Florida

A view of the temporary installation 'Order of Importance' from the artist Leandro Erlich in Miami Beach, Florida

The artist was walking among the sand cars with Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, who congratulated Erlich on capturing the contradictory nature of Miami Beach, which is built on a fragile barrier island and facing numerous challenges from climate change, yet also reliant on tourism.

"For someone to be able to create a confluence of these things, the environment, the urbanization, the ecology, so that a person walking by can see it and experience it and think about it in his own way is something spectacular," said Gelber.

Part of the temporary installation 'Order of Importance' from the artist Leandro Erlich in Miami Beach, Florida

A worker places sand on the temporary installation 'Order of Importance' from the artist Leandro Erlich in Miami Beach, Florida

A view of the temporary installation 'Order of Importance' from the artist Leandro Erlich in Miami Beach, Florida

People walk through the temporary installation 'Order of Importance' from the artist Leandro Erlich in Miami Beach, Florida

People walk around the temporary installation 'Order of Importance' from the artist Leandro Erlich in Miami Beach, Florida

Leandro Erlich (L) and the curator Ximena Caminos (R) talk in front of his temporary installation 'Order of Importance' in Miami Beach, Florida

A general view of the temporary installation 'Order of Importance' from the artist Leandro Erlich in Miami Beach, Florida

A car made with sand is seen on the temporary installation 'Order of Importance' from the artist Leandro Erlich in Miami Beach, Florida

A view of the temporary installation 'Order of Importance' from the artist Leandro Erlich in Miami Beach, Florida