Synaptic Caguamas
Subsculpture 4
Synaptic Caguamas 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
Technique:
Glass bottles on motorized wooden table, PC running algorithms that simulate neuronal activity
Dimensions:
210 x 180 x 87 centimeters
Edition:
3 copies + 1 AP copy
Exhibitions
- 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
- Rafael Lozano-Hemmer - concept, direction
- Conroy Badger - programming
- Will Bauer, Sandra Badger, Karl-Erik Riesach, Peggy Strong, Robyn Badger, Jennifer Laughlin, Denis Sulivan, Olav Kahlbaum, OMR Gallery (Mexico) - production support
- Private collections and FEMSA collection in Monterrey, Mexico
Bibliography
- "Rafael Lozano-Hemmer PG", Prepared Guitar, Madrid, Spain, January 13th 2015 (english). Text of 43 pages. (Website)
- Blanco, Sergio R., "Vincula Lozano-Hemmer neuronas con caguamas - El artista presenta cinco instalaciones en la Galería OMR", Reforma, Mexico City, México, November 10th 2004 (español). Text of 1 page. (Newspaper)
- Colección FEMSA, Colección FEMSA, Latinoamericano: Arte Moderno y Contemporáneo, Grupo Romo,, Mexico City, México, 2008 (español). Text of 2 pages. (Book)
- de la Sierra, Carlos Antonio, Reviews - Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Art Nexus, vol. 3, no. 56, April - June, 2005 (english). Text of 2 pages. (Magazine)
- Freyer, Conny, Noel, Sebastien and Rucki, Eva, "Rafael Lozano-Hemmer", Digital by design, London, United Kingdom, 2008 (english). Text of 2 pages. (Book)
- Gallegos, Carina and Marisol Martell, "Art Basel Miami Beach 2005", Art Nexus No. 56 Vol. 3, Bogotá, Colombia, 2005 (english). Text of 2 pages. (Magazine)
- Gorman, Sophie, "Light my spire", Irish Independent, Dublin, Ireland, April 23rd 2004 (english). Text of 1 page. (Newspaper)
- 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, Mexico City, México, November 2nd 2004 (español). Text of 1 page. (Newspaper)
- Medina, Cuauhtémoc, "Participación y persecución", Reforma, Mexico City, México, November 3rd 2004 (español). Text of 1 page. (Newspaper)
- 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), Mexico City, México, November 5th 2005 (español). Text of 1 page. (Newspaper)
Ozog, Maciej, "Surveilling the surveillance society: the case of Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's installations", Conspiracy dwellings: Surveillance in Contemporary Art, Newcastle, United Kingdom, 2010 (english). Text of 7 pages. (Book)