Iron 56 / Carlos Sfeir Vottero (CL/ES)/Photo: tom mesic

Iron 56

Carlos Sfeir Vottero (CL/ES)

Our planet is propelled by the four fundamental forces of the Universe, those that cannot be reduced to more basic interactions. The Strong Force, the Weak Force, Electromagnetism and Gravity represent the essence of the Earth’s formation, present and future. Iron 56 proposes a tangible model of the relationship between energy and balance allowing visitors to play with these otherwise imperceptible forces.

The installation takes its place at the intersection of art and science as a strategy to connect with the more-than-human world. The project intends for the flow of energy to be a means of communication that can be decoded for the public through a poetic approach to physics and chemistry. Studies on statics and magnetism are behind the work’s harmony and chaos. Experiments on the counter-extraction of iron through electrolysis result in crystalline formations that embody the forces at play in the installation.

Bio

  • Photo: Matteo Rapini

    Carlos Sfeir Vottero

    CL/ES

    My practice is influenced by my interests in magic, science, territory and cultures. I believe that art is a powerful tool to question our certainties, unveil new interpretations of nature and free ourselves from confining preconceptions.

    I studied architecture in Santiago de Chile, and moved to Europe in 2019 to further a personal creative journey. After completing a master’s degree at Design Academy Eindhoven, I moved to Berlin, where I continue to work and explore my artistic pursuits.

Credits

Fabrication – Iron and Electricity
Interaction – Gravity and Electromagnetism
Text – Matteo Rapini
Install – Rebekka Jochem

The participation is the result of a collaboration between Ars Electronica and the Ministerío de las Culturas, las Artes y el Patrimonio and the Ministerío de Relaciones Exteriores | Gobierno de Chile.