| Tropical Space Proyectos is a series
of objects, sculptural installations, drawings and photographs which are inspired in the space rockets and capsules from the "Space Race". These works deal with the
effects of the Cold War in El Salvador and Central America, confronting the distance and polarization between First and Third
Worlds through playful sculptures. The "Space Race" which saw a head on confrontation between the Soviet Union and The United States of America and which developed during the 1950s - 80s saw both superpowers engage in a military power confrontation, disguised as a scientific and technological competition for world supremacy, one that was also played in smaller and suddenly significant scenarios like El Salvador, which developed a 12 year long civil war, dismissed by the US and USSR as "Proxy Wars". These capsules, the first of which was Sputnik (both in the Space Race and in these series of works) are parodies, wannabe spacecrafts, forced and playful fusion of opposites: out of this world technology recreated with materials and methods of construction that come from informal architecture. They portray Central America as a region with dreams of technological progress and modernity that is caught in it's own cultural, social and economic limitations, however, one that is not devoid of humor and creativity. These works speak of Central American history and its relation to World and Space exploration history but on another level, they also speak of human isolation and how on today's highly technological societies despite the illusion of social interaction by means of digital technology. |
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Sputnik Z-011. Object. 59 cms. Ø + crash landing track. El Zonte Beach, El Salvador. 2011
Sputnik Z-011. Installed at El Zonte Beach, La Libertad, El Salvador. 2011
Sputnik Z011. Project Sketch. Graphite on paper. 2011. Courtesy: Galerie Ernst Hilger
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| Sputnik Z-011. Object. 59 cms. Ø x 200 cms. Found materials. 2011. Installation at MARTE Museum, El Salvador. |
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| Tropical Mercury Capsule. Project sketch. Graphite on paper. 18 x 26 cms. 2012 |
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Tropical Mercury Capsule. Wood, metal roofing sheets, T.V. light, found materials. 180 cms. Ø x 290 cms. 2012. Installation at MARTE Museum, San Salvador, El Salvador (2012-2013) Perez Art Museum of Miami (PAMM) Permanent Collection, gift of Mario Cader Frech and Robert Wennet   |
Tropical Mercury Capsule, Cockpit (detail)
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| Korabl-Sputnik. Project study for Third World Sputnik. Crayon on paper. 50 x 70 cms. 2013. courtesy: Galerie Ernst Hilger, Vienna. |
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| Third World Sputnik. Metal frame, cloth, plastic, light, T.V. sound, cut aluminum cans, found objects. 140 cms. Ø x 240 cms. Installation at the 55th Venice Biennial, Venice, Italy, 2013 |
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| Third World Sputnik. Capsule detail. |
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| Third World Sputnik. Capsule interior (cockpit) |
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| Sputnik NY-Z. Object. 120 cms. Ø x crash landing track. Metal, plastic, found wood, aluminum, found materials. Installation at Socrates Sculpture Park for El Museo del Barrio's "The S-Files" Biennial, New York. 2012 |
Monument to the Third World International. Stools, ladder, discarded wood, paper, plastic, found objects. 2011
Installation at Arlington Arts Center, Virginia, USA.
Trash Wars
Imperial Slum Ship
Wood, cardboard, plastic, roofing sheets, found materials, light
140 x 200 x 500 cms.
2013. Installation at Edificio La Naviera for the 43rd International Artist Salon, Medellín, Colombia
Wood, cardboard, plastic, found materials, light
120 x 120 x 250cms. + track
2013. Installation at Hilger Next Gallery, Vienna, Austria
Trash Wars is a series of sculptures, drawings and a print portfolio that is based on the science fiction saga "Star Wars". These works parody the immense and futuristic space ships and vehicles that represent the technological and military power of the dark, fascist Galactic Empire. in this case however the Empire is that of the Third World. These works portray, in a humorous way, the disproportioned fear and apprehension that some citizens of Europe and the United States feel towards their southerly and extremely poor neighboring nations. The works confront issues of exploitation, post-colonization, migration and intolerance.
Above: Trash Wars Print Portfolio
Boxed set of six prints, limited edition of 50
produced by Imprenta Carini, Italy for Galerie Hilger Next, Vienna, Austria
