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CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN SPACES AND EMOTIONS WITH MURIEL GALLARDO WEINSTEIN
Multidisciplinary artist
Muriel Gallardo Weinstein’s artistic practice is interdisciplinary, focusing on the discovery, exploration and acquisition of spaces, whether cultural, geographical or intellectual in nature. The Chilean born, Berlin-based artist says she uses diverse materials to create art works, which are based on extensive research:
“I always begin by researching the space and its composition – every kind of space that exists in the world, from the public to the private, questioning its composite nature. I start from a question and displace it into a shape; choosing the most appropriate techniques and materials according to it. The result behaves more as a question than as an answer.”
Muriel with her husband, neuroscientist Dr. Simon Guendelman, has worked on the concept and production of art and science projects since she believes in collaboration as the future of art. In the scientific area she has collaborated together with important scientists such as Vittorio Gallese, Jesse Prinz, and Laura Kaltwasser building a direct approach between art and science.
In addition to finding inspiration in science, philosophy and literature, her works are mainly based on ideas which are derived from the environment she finds herself in, and the emotions which come up within the context:
“Since my interest lies in the different types of spaces in the world, and in their perception, I am mostly inspired by natural and urban spaces, and how people establish relationships with these landscapes and their components. Focusing on highlighting the limits between the space, the body and the mind. These, according to my line of work, are subject to a series of factors such as culture, historical moments, the previous knowledge that we bring to that moment, our emotional and psychological state, among other things. I try to make shapes to be understood emotionally, in an aesthetic experience, even when they have a background of research behind them.”
The materials Muriel uses are mostly objects, fabrics and materials that she finds while inhabiting different spaces: “I re-articulate them and alter their common meaning. I’m always in search of presenting these new connections and the poetry that exists in these spaces. In this way, I make diverse decisions: sometimes I draw, cast and model found objects, sometimes I build big shapes like nests or baskets. All I want is to embrace the chaos in a way that organizes it.”
As Muriel’s work is mostly procedural in nature and contemplates extensive periods of research, both practical and theoretical, she doesn’t usually encounter creative blocks. However, she claims that a project always leaves “remains”, things that give rise to new projects: “… one idea leads to the investigation of another, just as one technique and material can be enriched with another.”
Right now, Muriel is working on two projects in parallel. The first is based on an infographic work on the world population, by continent and immigration. She does this by using world statistics and anthropology research as theoretical reference, and constructs sculptures by using textile materials from around the world.
The second project is about the history of cinema in parallel with the history of the world, making a timeline with images based on film productions from around the world emphasizing on multiculturalism. It is depicted by using different techniques, mainly graphics, sculpture and installation.
Credits for shots
Diamond: Valentina Berthelon
Hovel: Constanza Valderrama
Textile landscape: Marcela Uriví
Berlin in a basket: Marcelo Hernandez
Infographic weave, weaving a basket: Ze Wei
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