A single 33-millilitre bottle of perfume titled U From Uruguay sold for 50,000 dollars in 2013, securing its status as the most expensive fragrance ever produced. This conceptual piece, created by Montevideo-born artist Martín Sastre using essences from native herbs and chrysanthemums grown by Uruguayan President José Mujica, exemplifies his multidisciplinary approach to contemporary media.
Early Development and Relocation
Born in 1976 in Montevideo, Sastre began studying cinema at age eight. Family members, including his sister Maria Eugenia and brother Federico, appeared in his initial creative projects. In 2002, he moved to Madrid after receiving a grant from the Fundación Carolina, a support system provided by the Spanish government.
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Sastre works across film, video, drawing, photography, and sculpture. His early recognition stems from the Iberoamerican Trilogy, which includes Videoart: The Iberoamerican Legend, Montevideo: The Dark Side of the Pop, and Bolivia 3: Confederation Next. In 2004, the Madrid City Council awarded him the First Prize for Young Artist at the ARCO Art Fair.
Philanthropic Foundation and Institutional Work
In 2003, he established the Martin Sastre Foundation for the Super Poor Art to facilitate international opportunities for peripheral artists. The organization launched the 'Adopt a Latin American Artist' initiative and later collaborated with Bauhaus University in Weimar to sponsor German artists visiting Uruguay.
Feature Filmmaking
His cinematic career expanded into feature films with the 2010 release of Miss Tacuarembó, starring Natalia Oreiro and Rossy de Palma. This project earned him the Best Film Biznaga Award and an ALMA Award for Best Script at the 2011 Zonazine Malaga Spanish Film Festival. Subsequent film work includes Protocolo Celeste and Nasha Natasha.
Fast facts
- Born: 1976, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Occupations: Screenwriter, actor, painter, film director, multimedia artist
- Notable Foundation: Martin Sastre Foundation for the Super Poor Art
- Feature Film Debut: Miss Tacuarembó (2010)
- Perfume Project: U From Uruguay (2012)
- Dietary Preference: Vegetarian
- Favorite Drink: Fanta Light
Questions readers ask
What is the Martin Sastre Foundation?
It is an organization established by Sastre in 2003 to provide international art circuit access to artists from the periphery who lack sufficient financial means.
What was the significance of the U From Uruguay perfume?
It set a record for the world's most expensive fragrance, selling for 50,000 dollars, with 90 percent of the proceeds designated to support Latin American artists.
