the desert, the animist, and the virus

the desert, the animist, and the virus, 2018

Desert Coatl: scanned rattlesnake tail and CNC milled enlarged replica, carved prototyping foam, 9 x 14 x 58 inches

Animist: 3D scanned bald eagle talon, cast aluminum from 3D print, custom software, electronics, motors, 14 x 40 x 72 inches

Virus Tumbleweed: virus simulation model, 3D print, resin, 9 parts; 7 x 7 x 7 inches each

the desert, the animist, and the virus is an installation of kinetic 3D scans that research biopolitics between the desert of US/Mexican border and Mars. Inspired by Elizabeth Povinelli's book, Geontologies: A Requiem to Late Liberalism. From a geological point of view, planet Earth began without Life around 4.54 billion years ago with Nonlife. As suggested by Povenilli, "overtime came the evolution of life until humanity brought the Anthropocene, which threatens to extinguish not only its own sort but all sorts, returning the planet to an original lifelessness." In other words, the human is cast as the protagonist of the Anthropocene and future colonization of life. The Desert motivates the search for other life in the universe and well as mineral resources. Anxieties play out within the depths of the desert. These characters embodying power against extermination and indigenous survival across borders: rattlesnake, eagle, and virus/tumbleweed.

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