Artist Statement
La Capella, June 9-August 28, Artworks from ISEA2022’s call. Public event.
Keywords: Climate Change, Hypernatural, Global Warming, Speculative Design, Philosophical Toy
Water drop viewer is an analog interactive indoor installation that uses human energy to create an intimate relationship between the viewer and a modest, beautiful, unique and fragile drop of water. The installation aims to promote a deep contemplative state that allows you to connect with a drop of water as an essential element of life and as a world in itself. After thirty years of dedication to electronic art, with this work I am forced to rethink my own relationship with the media and nature, with mediation and experience.
Interaction: When looking through the eye piece, the viewer sees what she perceives as a suspended wobbling water drop. In fact, she is always looking at different drops of water in the same position, revealed by the flashing light coming in intermittently through the shutter. The mechanism draws an analogy between the frame of a film and the drop in a stream of water. The installation works thanks to the physical interaction of visitors, who can operate the water pump and the bicycle light (dynamo) using the pedal of a century-old sewing machine. I believe that by incorporating a treadle mechanism, I can involve visitors in a physical repetitive action that can potentiate the meditative state that I am willing to convey.
- Roc Parés (Mexico City, 1968). Interactive communication artist and researcher. Doctor in Audiovisual Communication (UPF, 2001) and graduate in Fine Arts (UB, 1992). Associate Professor and Researcher of the Department of Communication of Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona. He has collaborated with dozens of artists, scientists, engineers, institutions and groups with whom he has promoted some pioneering platforms in electronic art. Parés’ works are characterized by poetic and critical experimentation with digital media. His interactive installations, robotic and telematic performances have been presented and exhibited internationally at the CCCB, Fundació Joan Miró, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Centro Cultural de Belém, Tate Gallery, Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, Centro Cultural de España en México, Ex Teresa Arte Actual, Laboratoire Paragraphe Université PARIS 8, Brandts Danmarks Mediemuseum, Centrale Montemartini, La Chambre Blanche Québec, Bòlit Centre d’Art Contemporani de Girona, among others. http://roc-pares.net