rafael lozano-hemmer's light installation in design miami/basel changes by recording people’s heartbeats

rafael lozano-hEmmer at DESIGN MIAMI/ basel 2022

The installation ‘Pulse Topology’ by Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, in collaboration with BMW i and Superblue, in Design Miami/ Basel 2022 changes using people’s heartbeats. 6,000 lightbulbs dangle over the visitors’ heads as they walk through the dark room, their paths illuminated by the warm glow of the light installation above them. The lightbulbs bend in their flow, mimicking crests and valleys and offering an intimate landscape that visitors are invited to traverse. Each lightbulb glimmers to the pulse of a previous participant, as custom-made pulse sensors record visitors’ new heartbeats.

When a participant interacts with the installation, their pulse is added to the canopy of recordings above them, replacing the oldest recording, making the public art interactive, and introducing the latest biometric artwork in an ongoing series by Lozano-Hemmer in collaboration with Superblue and BMW i for Art Basel 2022. The installation ‘Pulse Topology’ invites visitors to enjoy the poetry of a human-centric approach to technological innovations and will be presented in the foyer of Design Miami/Basel from June 14th to 19th. BMW will also be presenting the seventh edition of the BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors at the event, and as an official partner of the Art Basel in Basel show, the car company will again provide a VIP car service.

images from Superblue and BMW Group

‘pulse topology’ by rafael lozano-hemmer

Constructing a medium for self-representation, individual heartbeats come together in Lozano-Hemmer’s installation to curate an immersive chorus of light and sound, a translation of an interior force to an exterior form and the tangibility of the otherwise invisible register of the heartbeat, which glows and then fades in the spirit of a memento mori. Lozano-Hemmer’s application of biometrics in such contexts reveals the creativity of cross-disciplinary collaborations between the spheres of art and science. Recognized for his participatory installations, Lozano-Hemmer’s works gift his viewers a commanding power over real-time biometric data such as their heartbeats, breaths, voices, or fingerprints, pushing the nature of public engagement to new heights.

Inspired by conversations with BMW engineers and designers, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and his studio will use the same technology as in ‘Pulse Topology’ to activate the BMW i7’s interior with a visitor’s heartbeat tangible in light, sound, and graphics. This symbiotic relationship can be seen as an extension of the i7’s use of light to create a meaningful connection with its driver. The all-electric sedan demonstrates how an exclusive driving experience and the ultimate feeling of onboard well-being can marry sustainability and digitalization. A human-centered approach to the use of light both in the exterior and interior shapes the individual experience here as well. The iconic kidney grille and crystal headlights glimmer when the driver approaches their car, and a light carpet is revealed upon opening the door. The interior of the vehicle is illuminated in different scenarios selected by the driver according to the mood they wish to immerse themselves in: Relax, Expressive, or Sport.

rafael lozano-hemmer’s light installation in design miami/basel changes by recording people’s heartbeats

light installation with custom-made sensors

With this presentation, BMW i and Superblue build on their collaborative work through experiences, art, and technology, following the premiere of DRIFT’s ‘Franchise Freedom’ at Art Basel in Miami Beach 2017 and Random International’s ‘No One is an Island’ at Frieze London 2021. On the occasion of Art Basel in Basel and the launch of the new BMW 7 Series, BMW will also unveil the seventh edition of the BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors in the Foyer of Design Miami/Basel on June 15th.

The expanded new edition of the BMW Art Guide offers visitors to explore private collections that will be accessible to the public worldwide and illustrates 304 private collections in 51 countries and 224 cities, some of which are opening their doors for the very first time. The venues include cities in Europe and Africa, Asia and America, and places not usually sojourned by common travelers such as the Swiss Alps and the Norwegian fjords. The 7th BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors is published by Hatje Cantz and is also available as an e-book.

close-up view of the undulating light