The cycle of intensity
The Cycle of Intensity (Salinas Grandes de Jujuy, 2016) marks a pivotal return to the high-altitude salt flats of northern Argentina, nearly twenty years after the seminal 1998 performance «Un acto de intensidad» by the experimental art collective Ar Detroy. However, this return shifts from a purely existential gesture to a profound ecological and geopolitical stance. Carried out in close collaboration with members of the local Kolla communities, the installation serves as a poetic yet urgent act of resistance against the aggressive encroachment of transnational mining corporations seeking to extract lithium from these sacred, ancestral lands. It stands as a critical warning sign, contrasting the timeless memory of salt against the destructive forces threatening indigenous sovereignty and survival.
The cycle of intensity – 6to Día #946, Inkjet Print, 150 cm x 220 cm
Salinas Grandes de Jujuy, 2016
Working Process & Community Alliance
The production represented a complex logistical journey across distinct ecological zones. The monolithic structures were fabricated within the subtropical climate of the Yungas before being transported up to the blinding desert of Salinas Grandes. Facilitated by the strategic support of Lucio Boschi (Museo en los Cerros) and Bertil Kindgard, the crew established a base camp operating out of Purmamarca. Crucial to the project’s human landscape was «El Gaucho», a local resident who served as a vital bridge to the community’s Cacique (chief). This open dialogue allowed families from Pozo Colorado, El Colorado, and Santuario Tres Pozos to progressively join the project. Visually, the piece achieved a distinct cinematic gravity through the photographic direction of Santiago Porter, capturing a shared ritual of endurance.
The cycle of intensity
Salinas Grandes de Jujuy, 2016
The cycle of intensity – 6to Día #946, Inkjet Print, 150 cm x 220 cm
Salinas Grandes de Jujuy, 2016
The cycle of intensity – 4to Día #728, Inkjet Print, 150 cm x 220 cm
Salinas Grandes de Jujuy, 2016
Conceived as an immersive multichannel video installation, the visual power of the project constructs a hypnotic space where the boundary between the human body and the planetary crust completely dissolves. The figures standing motionless amidst the salt flat cease to be mere individuals; they become monumental pillars of resistance. In this fragile equilibrium, The Cycle of Intensity stands as a monument to collective memory, capturing the solemn tension of a community defending the absolute stillness of their ecosystem against the impending acceleration of industrial exploitation.
The cycle of intensity – 4to Día #797, Inkjet Print, 150 cm x 220 cm
Salinas Grandes de Jujuy, 2016
The cycle of intensity
Salinas Grandes de Jujuy, 2016