Episode 280: In the midst of loss and isolation, an artist’s anti-monument, “A Crack in the Hourglass” (2021), brings communities together to mourn, remember, and feel connected again.

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is most interested in monuments that “disappear, question themselves, that complicate some of the stories that we tell ourselves.” This anti-monumental approach creates platforms for self-representation through large-scale participatory installations such as “A Crack in the Hourglass” (2021). Shown at the Brooklyn Museum in 2022, the artwork memorializes those lost to COVID-19. After hearing stories of families and friends unable to gather and grieve, Lozano-Hemmer and his studio team decided to “create a way for people to be able to come together and remember our loss.” Through custom software, a robotic arm, sand, and a live video feed, the artist has provided an opportunity for communities to experience an event which memorializes their loved ones. Anyone can submit a photograph to http://www.acrackinthehourglass.net and gather remotely or in-person to watch a portrait of a friend or family member be drawn by the artwork.

A single body of sand produces each of the hundreds of portraits over the course of the installation. After a portrait is complete, the image tilts and the sand slides away to be recycled. In the face of an invisible virus, Lozano-Hemmer hopes to build “a sense of universal solidarity” and connect the individuals depicted in the installation. “The ephemeral helps us remember,” states Lozano-Hemmer.

Learn more about the artist at:
https://art21.org/artist/rafael-lozano-hemmer

CREDITS | Series Producer: Ian Forster. Director: Ian Forster. Editor: Janah Elise Cox. Camera: Sebastián Lasaosa Rogers. Sound: David Hocs. Colorist: Jonah Greenstein. Sound Mix: Adam Boese. Music: Blue Dot Sessions. Artwork Courtesy: Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. Special Thanks: Lauren Bierly, Brooklyn Museum, Lozano-Hemmer Studio, Taylor Maatman, Hazen Mayo, Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo, Gabriel Rizzotti, Drew Sawyer, Harry Tinh, Milagros Verendia.

"Extended Play" is supported by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts; and, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; the Art21 Contemporary Council; and by individual contributors.

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