FERNANDO PALOMAR, ArteBA

Buenos Aires – Some of the best works to be seen at ArteBA were those in the curated sections. There was a number of installations and sculptures at El Rural’s rear section, each one emerging from the hall’s dark gloom. Sigismond de Vajay’s “Goodbye Gasoline” consisted of 42 miniature oil derricks on an elevated platform-cum-oil field. Lit with an eerie, post-apocalyptic twilight, each derrick moved slowly and methodically while occasional mists of smoke were released to complete the mood. Viewing stools stood at each corner, allowing you an eye-level perspective with the ground of the oil field. This was a hit at ArteBA, particularly with kids.

Also stunning was the huge video sculpture staircase designed by Guillermo Lerner. Commissioned by Converse shoes (to celebrate their 100th anniversary), the sculpture welcomed visitors into Converse's sponsored area: Caja Negra / Cubo Blanco - the curated video section of ArteBA.

But for me, the real show-stopper, take-away piece was Fernando Palomar’s “Haffner Finale.” In Palomar's video we see the artist seated at his drum set, in front of a picture window, outside of which the sun sets over a beautiful, pastoral landscape. Playing in the background we can hear the finale, or presto, of Mozart’s Symphony number 35 (Haffner). As the music zips along we watch Palomar mark the tempo, meticulously and silently, then jump in on his drums and join the timpani - along with the full orchestra. He jumps in and out of the music accordingly, producing dual sensations of, on the one hand, electric anticipation as he waits, and on the other, ecstatic communion when he joins in. The end result is hypnotic.

Palomar achieves a fantastic visual and aural layering of time. As the music crescendos with the sunset's culmination, we watch the artist literally mark time and play out the day. Initially the video gives a wonderfully simple impression of an amateur musician joining an orchestra as it plays a classical masterpiece. But by the video’s end you are so wrapped up in the fantastic swirl of music and vista, you begin to get the sneaking sensation that Palomar is the one in control of the entire situation, including the orchestration of the sun’s setting. Within 4 minutes Palomar moves from artist-as-novice to artist-as-master.

Fernando Palomar is a Mexican artist from Guadalajara.

Nathan Tichenor