Synaptic Caguamas

Subsculpture 4

“Synaptic Caguamas” (Subsculpture 4) is a kinetic sculpture consisting of a motorized Mexican "cantina" bar table with 30 "Caguama"-sized beer bottles (1-litre each). The bottles spin on the table with patterns generated by cellular automata algorithms that simulate the neuronal connections in the brain. Every few minutes the bottles are reset automatically and seeded with new initial conditions for the algorithm, so that the movement patterns are never repeated. This kinetic sculpture is a primitive and absurd attempt to make tangible the mathematics of recollection and thought.

General info

Spanish name:

Caguamas Sinápticas

Year of creation:

2004

Technique:

Glass bottles on motorized wooden table, PC running algorithms that simulate neuronal activity

Dimensions:

210 x 180 x 87 cm

Keywords:

generator, sound, robotic, indoor

Edition:

3 Editions, 1 AP

Collectors:

Colección FEMSA and private collectors

Exhibitions

TECHS-MECHS: A Survey of Mexican Technological Culture, Gray Area Foundation for the Arts, Grand Theatre, San Francisco, California, United States, 2023.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Presencia Inestable, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey, Monterrey, México, 2019 - 2020.
Temporalidades Arte Latinoamericano, Museo de Arte e Historia de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, México, 2018 - 2019.
Latin America Auction, Phillips, New York City, New York, United States, 2015.
Desplazamientos, FEMSA collection group show, El Instituto Tamaulipeco para la Cultura y las Artes, Matamoros, México, 2013.
FEMSA "desplazamiento de Arte Moderno", Museo Reyes Meza, Nuevo Laredo, México, 2012.
interconexiones 2000-2009: Arte contemporáneo en la Colección FEMSA, Colección FEMSA, Pinacoteca Diego Rivera, Xalapa, México, 2011.
Trayectos: paisaje y memoria. Arte contemporáneo en la Colección FEMSA, Centro Cultural de Chiapas Jaime Sabines, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, México, 2010.
Trayectos: paisaje y memoria. Arte contemporáneo en la Colección FEMSA, Planetario Villahermosa, Villahermosa, México, 2010.
Conjugaciones: Arte Contemporáneo Latinoamericano en la Colección FEMSA, Museo de los pintores Oaxaqueños, Oaxaca, México, 2009.
Subsculptures, Galerie Guy Bärtschi, Genève, Switzerland, 2005 - 2006.
ARCO '05, Galería OMR, Madrid, Spain, 2005.
Art Basel Miami Beach, Galería OMR, Miami, Florida, United States, 2004.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Galería OMR, Mexico City, México, 2004.

Credits

Concept and Direction: Rafael Lozano-Hemmer
Programming: Conroy Badger
Poduction Support: Will Bauer, Sandra Badger, Karl-Erik Riesach, Peggy Strong, Robyn Badger, Jennifer Laughlin, Denis Sulivan, Olav Kahlbaum, OMR Gallery (México)

Bibliography

"Rafael Lozano-Hemmer PG." Prepared Guitar, 13 Jan. 2015. Madrid, Spain, 2015. (english) (Websites)
Blanco, Sergio R.. "Vincula Lozano-Hemmer neuronas con caguamas - El artista presenta cinco instalaciones en la Galería OMR." Reforma, 10 Nov. 2004. Mexico City, México. (español) (Newspapers)
Colección FEMSA. "Colección FEMSA, Latinoamericano: Arte Moderno y Contemporáneo." Grupo Romo,, 2008. Mexico City, México. (español) (Books)
de la Sierra, Carlos Antonio. "Reviews - Rafael Lozano-Hemmer." Art Nexus, vol. 3, no. 56, April - June, 2005. (english) (Magazines)
Freyer, Conny, Noel, Sebastien and Rucki, Eva. "Rafael Lozano-Hemmer." Digital by design, 2008. London, United Kingdom. (english) (Books)
Gallegos, Carina and Marisol Martell. "Art Basel Miami Beach 2005." Art Nexus No. 56 Vol. 3, 2005. Bogotá, Colombia. (english) (Magazines)
Gorman, Sophie. "Light my spire." Irish Independent, 23 Apr. 2004. Dublin, Ireland. (english) (Newspapers)
MacMasters, Merry. "Rafael Lozano-Hemmer mostrará cinco instalaciones en la Galería OMR - Cámaras de videovigilancia orwelliana, tema central de una exposición." La Jornada de enmedio, 2 Nov. 2004. Mexico City, México. (español) (Newspapers)
Medina, Cuauhtémoc. "Participación y persecución." Reforma, 3 Nov. 2004. Mexico City, México. (español) (Newspapers)
Müggenbug, Norma. "Instala vigilancia tecnológica - Rafael Lozano-Hemmer presenta instalaciones que involucran computadoras, sensores y proyectores, en la Galería OMR." Reforma (Primera Fila Weekly Guide), 5 Nov. 2005. Mexico City, México. (español) (Newspapers)
Ozog, Maciej. "Surveilling the surveillance society: the case of Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's installations." Conspiracy dwellings: Surveillance in Contemporary Art, 2010. Newcastle, United Kingdom. (english) (Books)