The cycle of intensity
The Cycle of Intensity (Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, 2017) represents a cinematic and conceptual expansion that traces its origins back to the seminal 1998 piece «Un acto de intensidad», originally conceptualized alongside the experimental art collective Ar Detroy. Decades later, the vast, reflective white desert of Uyuni becomes the stage for a polyphonic exploration of human presence and cosmic scale. Utilizing advanced aerial cinematography and an intricate collaborative framework, the project captures a collective ritual of endurance. The imagery creates a haunting dialogue between the figures suspended in the horizon and an immersive electronic soundscape, redefining the boundaries of landscape video installation.
The cycle of intensity #1620, Inkjet Print, 150 cm x 220 cm
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, 2017
Working Process & Community Alliance
Operating in the extreme landscape of the Salar de Uyuni required a precise logistical framework capable of balancing advanced technology with the unpredictability of the desert. The production process combined coordinated multi-camera setups with specialized drone cinematography to master the radical reflection and infinite horizon of the salt flats. Crucial to the project’s conceptual depth was the alliance with members of the local community. Rather than acting as mere subjects, the local participants collaborated closely with the crew, performing a demanding ritual of stillness and endurance that challenged the physical and temporal boundaries of the environment.
The cycle of intensity
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, 2017
The cycle of intensity
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, 2017
The cycle of intensity #6059, Inkjet Print, 150 cm x 220 cm
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, 2017
Ultimately, «The Cycle of Intensity» evolves into an immersive meditation on human scale and cosmic indifference. By weaving together the memory of the original 1998 performance with the sonic density of contemporary electronic soundscapes, the installation confronting the viewer does not simply document a landscape. Instead, it constructs a hypnotic space where the boundaries between the sky and the earth dissolve. The figures suspended in the blinding white salt flat become universal symbols of resistance, capturing the tragic beauty of our fleeting footprint against the permanent backdrop of the sublime.
The cycle of intensity #1824, Inkjet Print, 150 cm x 220 cm
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, 2017
The cycle of intensity #1830, Inkjet Print, 150 cm x 220 cm
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, 2017