Roberto Huarcaya — Cosmic Traces

Arsenale, Venice

Roberto Huarcaya

Cosmic Traces

Peruvian Pavilion

1 April – 25 November 2024

Cosmic Traces is an installation that harmoniously brings together a collection of remarkable works: A monumental photogram meticulously conceived by artist Roberto Huarcaya in the heart of the Amazon rainforest –precisely within the Bahuaja Sonene National Park, nestled in the Tambopata jungle of Peru. Against the backdrop of this lush setting, Huarcaya unfolded a 30-meter photosensitive paper roll beneath a towering palm tree during a storm, allowing the lightning to etch its imprint onto the paper during the night. This photogram was revealed and fixed in-situ in a set-up darkroom amidst the jungle, utilizing water from nearby rivers. Notably, the liquid remnants from the development journeyed to Lima, ensuring environmentally responsible disposal. Complementing this visual masterpiece, a sculpture of a canoe by the talented artist Antonio Pareja (b. 1945, Ayacucho, Perú), and a piano composition envisioned by Mariano Zuzunaga (b. 1953, Lima, Peru). The proposal emerges at the crossroads of photography, installation, and land art, challenging our approach to (re)presenting the environment. It serves as an immersive, fleeting ritual sanctuary designed to awaken consciousness, spark imagination, and promote meditation. By doing so, it encourages viewers to reconsider their surroundings with a sensitive and non-instrumental perspective. The curatorial team of the proposal is formed by Joan Fontcuberta, Alejandro León Cannock, Andrea Jösh, Amanda Antunes and Víctor Vich. Commissioner: Armando Andrade de Lucio Curator: Alejandro León Cannock

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Arsenale, 2nd Floor

Venice, NY