From July 4 to August 19, the Galeria de la Memoria in Santiago de Chile will receive an ambitious project by Maximo Corvalan, conceived to enthrall spectators through the senses.
The DNA Project consists of 33 light-outfitted sculptures that incorporate fluorescent lamps, cables, bones and pipes that will remain dangling over some sort of swimming pool. The dimmed-light ambience mixed with lights, water splashing sounds and electricity invite viewers to go through a perceptive experience whereby some topics previously explored could just pop up: the technology applied in DNA research and its consequence to the contemporary life, the history of Chilean politics… “DNA has turned out to be an iconic concept in recent years, a concept that has gone far beyond the boundaries of science to traipse into other fields, just like a metaphor. It’s a concept that could remake history by redefining milestones and moments from the past in a more accurate way, even to the point of putting documents on the rack, documents that were affected by judgments, cultural and subjective assessments. DNA also connects us to a brutal event occurred in our country and related to my personal story: the delivery to their relatives of the wrong dead bodies of missing persons and detainees. Now new identities have been established with virtually no risk of mistakes,” the artist explains.
The projects hinges on the installation specially made for the Galeria de la Memoria –an outdoor space between Metro Quinta Normal and the Museo de la Memoria- that stretches out into the premises of the Water Garden on the south side of the institution. This is also an object-like and lighting work that toys with the idea of a fountain.
Corvalan (Chile, 1973) has a degree in Arts at the ARCIS University and a Master Degree in Visual Arts at the University of Chile. He took part in the biennials of Shanghai (2004), the National Museum of Fine Arts (2006) and Havana (2009). He has conducted individual exhibits in the US, Germany, Argentina and Chile, among other nations. His work has also been part of countless collective exhibits, such as Chile arte extremo.
Source: Press release
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