[ISEA2022] Artist Statement: Rosell Meseguer — Quadra Minerale – Rare Earths

Artist Statement

June 9 – August 21, Santa Mònica Art Centre. Public Event.

Keywords: Vademécum, Periodic Table of the Elements, Extraction and use of Minerals, Technology, Enviroment

QUADRA MINERALE – TIERRAS RARAS 2017-2019
On the basis of the war, deeply linked to mineral colonization, Rare Earth Elements, has sought to expand the geopolitical reading on the subject and the problems derived from it – technology, economy and society – from a publication, an installation of the creative process, a pictorial polyptych and various works.
On the basis of the war, deeply linked to mineral colonization, Rare Earth Elements, has sought to expand the geopolitical reading on the subject and the problems derived from it technology, economy and society – from a publication, an installation of the creative process, a pictorial polyptych and various works in drawing, printmaking, video and photography.

• In 2010, the press began to talk about the so-called “war of the rare earths”.
• Rare Earths and lanthanides, have been extracted from the end of the 19th century.
• They belong to a large group of the periodic table of elements, which celebrates 150 years of history in 2019.
• In the 1960’s, they started being used for high technology China, United States, India and Brazil, are major producers of rare earths.
• China is now a key country in the production of the Rare Earths and its tight control has generated profound disagreements and conflicts – affection and disaffection – worldwide.

The development of the proposal concludes in the Vademécum: Quadra Minerale. Rare earths, other minerals and mining concepts. An approach to the elements and their technological uses in contemporaneity. http://www.rosellmeseguer.com/index.php/en/projects/rare-earth-elements.html