Technologies of the Spirit
516 Arts, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Curated by Alicia Inez Guzmán and Ric Kasini Kandour
June 11, 2022 - September 3, 2022
As we move into the middle of the 21st century, how will we reconcile the past and forge a new future? Each of the artists in Technologies of the Spirit weaves elements of 20th century art and culture into contemporary artworks that invite the viewer to contemplate their place in the landscape and their role in society. At the heart of each work is a rethinking of old ways of making one’s way through the world. In the 21st century, we think of technology as machines, software, and algorithms, but on its most fundamental level, technology is the application of human knowledge. The idea of technology is as applicable to what we eat and how we prepare it as it is to how we work the land, build our homes, and go about our work. On a personal level, technology is how we use our knowledge of the world around us—people, places, and things—to make sense of our place in that world. In this sense, resilience, prayer, ritual, coping, self-care, etc can be considered technologies of the spirit. Each of the artists in this exhibition are using their knowledge and understanding of the world to create artwork that speaks to one’s place in it.
Catalog (pdf)
