The
MCA has been closed while it's getting renovated, but as part of the
Sydney International Art Series, the museum will partially re-open to present a solo show by renowned artist
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. Known for his imaginative and interactive art,
Recorders is his first Australian show. The exhibition will also allow visitors the chance to sneak a peak at one of the MCA's newly-refurbished galleries.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is a Mexican-Canadian artist based in Montreal and Madrid. He is best-known for using things like film projectors, security cameras and other digital devices to engage with his audience and give them new ideas about identity, participation and surveillance. His work has been exhibited all over the world and is held by some of the globe's leading museums and galleries. He is one of the most interesting figures in the contemporary art world and a chance to experience his creative visions should not be missed.
Recorders consists of 12 unique works, two of which were designed specifically for this exhibition. Patrons attending the gallery will be encouraged to engage with the works, as many of the pieces only come to life following interaction with people. Motion detectors, fingerprint scanners and microphones are just some of the devices used to collect data, which is then presented back to people in unusual ways.
Pulse Room (2006) is one of the most interesting works to be displayed during the exhibition. It features 100 lightbulbs dangling from the ceiling. When somebody holds a heart rate sensor, a computer programs the lightbulbs to blink to the exact same rhythm as the person's heart.
Please Empty Your Pockets (2010) is another imaginative work. Resembling a security checkpoint at an airport, when someone leaves an item on the conveyor belt, the object reappears on the other side of the belt against the backdrop of projected objects from a large database of images.
So if you've shunned art galleries before because the idea of standing quietly in front of old paintings was not your scene,
Recorders is a must-see event. It might even change how you view art. And what you even consider art.
The MCA is located at 140 George Street in The Rocks.
Recorders runs from the 16th of December to the 12th of February. Admission is free and the gallery is open daily, except for Christmas Day.
