Eduardo Kac

Lagoglyphs: The Volcano Paintings


Eduardo Kac, Lagoglyphs: The Volcano Paintings, ink on canvas, 44 x 44 in (100 x 100 cm) each, 2010.

 

   
         
   
         
   
         
   
         

Eduardo Kac, Lagoglyphs: The Volcano Paintings
Ink on canvas, 44 x 44 in (100 x 100 cm) each, 2010.

In unison with millions of people around the world, during the third week of April 2010 I experienced a forceful global disruption of plans and expectations caused by the Icelandic volcano eruption. The widespread shutdown of airspace jeopardized personal travel and shipment of goods to and from Europe, resulting in massive chaos and losses of billions of Euros. I was stranded overseas and was forced to reorganize my life around the unpredictable patterns of the drifting Icelandic volcanic ash.  It was a powerful experience to read reports that the volcano would go on for two years while not knowing how long I would stay marooned. Suddenly, the illusion of being in control of your life vanished. The Eyjafjallajokull volcano had been dormant for nearly two centuries before becoming active again in the late evening of March 20, 2010. Eventually the ash dispersal subsided but the experience left indelible impressions. I created the suite “Lagoglyph: The Volcano Paintings”--in which I submit my Lagoglyphs to an “eruption”--to celebrate this experience. (EK)


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