Criticism of the “throwaway culture” as an argument for the installation of José Cosme

The “throwaway culture” that Pope Francis has spoken so much about becomes for the multidisciplinary artist José Cosme the ‘leitmotiv’ on which he builds. the exhibition-installation that opens this Wednesday October 23 at La Neomudéjar in Madrid.

With the title «FOREVER. Materiality of ephemeral things”, the Valencian Cosme appropriates the La Maquina room of the exhibition space to interrelate the already existing pieces – such as the old generator machinery – like found artwith videos, photographs, mirrors, objects and canvases that refer to the conceptual and aims to challenge the viewer in the face of this “throwaway culture” and the value of the ephemeral.

The author thus introduces “a new metaphysical vision” of disused objects and even discarded people, so that the description of the concept of value is reconsidered. The works play with each other as an installation, with mirror pieces that reflect the generator and the spectators, or signs with words like “new”, “forever” and “eternity” in an attempted conceptualization, so that the elements, whether found or contributed, make up an eclectic language.

Among the claims, the contrast between a “disused technology, the analog that coexists with AI and ends up being part of a posthuman vision.” About his exhibition the artist himself states: «I am interested experiencing art in these works as part of human development together with technological developmentbut also to the recovery of past technology. The use of ‘Low Tech’ -cheap technology or obsolete technology- is also part of a social proposal that I propose, and evokes the need to fight against the ‘social throwaway culture’ which is an attitude implanted in technological society.

Teacher, researcher and theologian, José Cosme, defines himself as one of the continuing artists of the Fluxus movement “from an approach to art as a form of research and continuous experience.” Through actions, installations, photographs or remains of performances develops “its own semiotics” with continuous references to Joseph Beuyswhich he considers a permanent model. Currently he also develops artistic projects on social networks such as #Fluxuswhite or #Fluxusinfluencers.

Opening: Wednesday, October 23, 12:00 p.m.

La Neomudéjar Museum

C/Antonio Nebrija, s/n

28007 – Madrid