Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's exhibits encourage the viewer to take part, change and construct with varied methods. Many senses are appealed to and also used to experience each individual instillation. I found it intriguing how the eye becomes secondary in viewing the recordings of both yourself and others before you. The idea that a piece of work does not exist unless someone is experiencing it is very apparent here and the fact that the works are allowed to openly evolve brings in the 4th dimension of time. Space is also a key factor - most peoples reaction is to occupy the negative space in different ways as they are encouraged to by the exhibits. This means that it becomes less about the work and more about the reactions. The viewer becomes the viewed.
The recordings of pulse i found particularly interesting and is something i've never seen converted into such visual forms. The pulse of electricity flowing through the lights exhibit not only had a strong visual appearance because of their height over the viewer but also showed around 100 heartbeats in flashes of regularity. I found this to be quite an emotive piece because of this.
Identity - as a theme - also comes across strongly. As individuals experience the different ways that aspects of their personality are recorded, the thought that their information (finger prints, pulse, images of them) is being taken gets diluted. In a different scenario/context such things may seem intimidating, yet displayed in this way it becomes a fun, intuitive and a thought provoking place to be.
For me the paradox of this collection was the work involving shadows and enlargement. Where the other works focused on waiting for input, it seemed this was revealing an output of the human form - reflected through shadows. However, it too did encourage movement and was a good way to end the visit.
As a result of all such things Hemmer becomes less of a 3-D artist and more of a curator of human behaviour, movement and recordings.
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