Multidisciplinary Artist Daniel Canogar Links History to Contemporary Times

One of the inspirations for this exhibit, the artist shared with me, was an art collection he saw in Lima, Peru, about 9 years ago. It was a private collection of textiles from the Inca and Nazca civilizations, as well as from other South American tribes. Indeed, the artist was exalted by the works he saw and left the art show “in tears”. He saw the collection a second time a year and a half later, and had the same experience, the same “emotional connection”. He realized that, in addition to containing typical references (such as the jaguar, the sun, and the snake), these textiles had different weaving techniques depending on the meaning behind the item (such as a weaving technique for funerary textiles versus another one for bridal clothing). He was astounded; “That for me was another level of sophistication; it was like a meta reference to their craft.”

Another inspiration for the exhibit was the invention of the Jacquard loom in 1804, which catapulted the Industrial Revolution. “The Jacquard loom was considered by many historians to be the first computer; the punch card was the first algorithm,” Canogar stated.

So how do these two historical references relate to Canogar’s practice? “I now see screens as modern textiles”, is the best quote to summarize the artist’s concept for his work.

“Maybe we haven’t changed that much; tools have changed but our obsessions, our concerns, our anxieties and our fascinations are still maybe very similar.”