Rafael Lozano-Hemmer
Encyclopedia
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is a Mexican-Canadian electronic art
ist who works with ideas from architecture
, technological theater and performance
. He holds a Bachelors of Science
in Physical Chemistry
from Concordia University in Montreal
. Currently, Lozano-Hemmer lives and works in Montréal and Madrid
.
in public spaces across Europe, Asia and America. Using robotics, real-time computer graphics, film projections, positional sound, internet links, cell phone interfaces, video and ultrasonic sensors, LED screens and other devices, his installations seek to interrupt the increasingly homogenized urban condition by providing critical platforms for participation. Lozano-Hemmer’s smaller-scaled sculptural and video installations explore themes of perception, deception and surveillance
. As an outgrowth of these various large scale and performance-based projects Lozano-Hemmer documents the works in photography editions that are also exhibited.
In 1999 he created Alzado Vectorial (or Vectorial Elevation), where internet participants directed searchlights over the central square in Mexico City. The work was repeated in Vitoria-Gasteiz
in 2002, in Lyon
in 2003, in Dublin in 2004 and in Vancouver
in 2010. He was the first artist to officially represent Mexico at the Venice Biennale
, with a solo show at the Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel for the 52nd International Art Exhibition in 2007. In 2006, Lozano-Hemmer's 33 Questions Per Minute was acquired by The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Subtitled Public (2005) is held in the Tate Collection in the United Kingdom.
Electronic art
Electronic art is a form of art that makes use of electronic media or, more broadly, refers to technology and/or electronic media. It is related to information art, new media art, video art, digital art, interactive art, internet art, and electronic music...
ist who works with ideas from architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, technological theater and performance
Performance
A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
. He holds a Bachelors of Science
Bachelors Of Science
Bachelors of Science is the stage name of Phil "Rene", Chris and Lukeino. They met in California and formed a successful act, quickly becoming one of the top drum and bass producers in the electronic music scene...
in Physical Chemistry
Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
from Concordia University in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. Currently, Lozano-Hemmer lives and works in Montréal and Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
.
Biography
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is best known for creating theatrical interactive installationsInteractive art
Interactive art is a form of installation-based art that involves the spectator in a way that allows the art to achieve its purpose. Some installations achieve this by letting the observer or visitor "walk" in, on, and around them; Some others ask the artist to become part of the artwork.Works of...
in public spaces across Europe, Asia and America. Using robotics, real-time computer graphics, film projections, positional sound, internet links, cell phone interfaces, video and ultrasonic sensors, LED screens and other devices, his installations seek to interrupt the increasingly homogenized urban condition by providing critical platforms for participation. Lozano-Hemmer’s smaller-scaled sculptural and video installations explore themes of perception, deception and surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
. As an outgrowth of these various large scale and performance-based projects Lozano-Hemmer documents the works in photography editions that are also exhibited.
In 1999 he created Alzado Vectorial (or Vectorial Elevation), where internet participants directed searchlights over the central square in Mexico City. The work was repeated in Vitoria-Gasteiz
Vitoria-Gasteiz
Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital city of the province of Álava and of the autonomous community of the Basque Country in northern Spain with a population of 235,661 people. It is the second largest Basque city...
in 2002, in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
in 2003, in Dublin in 2004 and in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
in 2010. He was the first artist to officially represent Mexico at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
, with a solo show at the Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel for the 52nd International Art Exhibition in 2007. In 2006, Lozano-Hemmer's 33 Questions Per Minute was acquired by The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Subtitled Public (2005) is held in the Tate Collection in the United Kingdom.
Awards
- BAFTA British Academy Award for Interactive Art, London, UK, 2005
- World Technology Network Award for the Arts, San Francisco, 2003
- Rockefeller-Ford FellowshipRockefeller FoundationThe Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
, New York, 2003 - Artist/Performer of the year, Wired Magazine Rave Awards, San Francisco, 2003
- Trophée des Lumiéres, Lyon, France, 2003
- International Bauhaus Award, 1st Prize, Dessau, Germany, 2002
- BAFTA British Academy Award for Interactive Art, London, England, 2002
- Gold Award, Interactive Media Design Review, I.D. MagazineI.D. (magazine)I.D. was a magazine covering the art, business and culture of design. It was published eight times a year by F+W Media....
, USA, 2002 - Ars ElectronicaArs ElectronicaArs Electronica is an organization based in Linz, Austria, founded in 1979 around a festival for art, technology and society that was part of the International Bruckner Festival. Herbert W. Franke is one of its founders. It became its own festival and a yearly event in 1986. Its director until 1995...
, Interactive Art Distinction, Linz, Austria, 2002 - Excellence Award, Media Arts Festival, CG Arts, Tokyo, Japan, 2000
- Ars ElectronicaArs ElectronicaArs Electronica is an organization based in Linz, Austria, founded in 1979 around a festival for art, technology and society that was part of the International Bruckner Festival. Herbert W. Franke is one of its founders. It became its own festival and a yearly event in 1986. Its director until 1995...
, Interactive Art Golden NicaPrix Ars ElectronicaThe Prix Ars Electronica is one of the most important yearly prizes in the field of electronic and interactive art, computer animation, digital culture and music...
, Linz, Austria, 2000 - SFMOMA Webby Awards, Distinction, San Francisco, 2000
- Ars ElectronicaArs ElectronicaArs Electronica is an organization based in Linz, Austria, founded in 1979 around a festival for art, technology and society that was part of the International Bruckner Festival. Herbert W. Franke is one of its founders. It became its own festival and a yearly event in 1986. Its director until 1995...
, Interactive Art Honorable Mention, Linz, Austria, 1998 - Ars ElectronicaArs ElectronicaArs Electronica is an organization based in Linz, Austria, founded in 1979 around a festival for art, technology and society that was part of the International Bruckner Festival. Herbert W. Franke is one of its founders. It became its own festival and a yearly event in 1986. Its director until 1995...
, Interactive Art Honorable Mention, Linz, Austria, 1995
External links
- Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's website, includes videos, texts and images
- Website for the Mexican Pavilion at the 52nd Venice Biennale
- An Audio Interview at the 52nd Venice Biennale on Radio Papesse
- A feature article about Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's text based work
- An Interview with Rafael Lozano-Hemmer at ARS Electronica by Randy Gladman
- OMR Gallery, Mexico City
- bitforms gallery, New York
- Galerie Guy Bärtschi, Geneva
- Vectorial Elevation, Relational Architecture 4
- Amodal Suspension, Relational Architecture 8
- Rafael Lozano-Hemmer on re-title.com
- Lozano-Hemmer discusses "Vectorial Elevation" on the PBS NewsHour
- Jori Finkel of the L.A. Times interviews Lozano-Hemmer on his 'pulse' series
Further reading
- Maciej Ożóg, "Surveilling the Surveillance Society: The Case of Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's Installations" in Outi Remes and Pam Skelton (eds.), Conspiracy Dwellings: Surveillance in Contemporary Art. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2010. Info at: http://www.c-s-p.org/Flyers/Conspiracy-Dwellings--Surveillance-in-Contemporary-Art1-4438-1905-0.htm