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allora & calzadilla

jennifer_allora_guillermo_calzadilla_maxxi_national_museum_of_xxi_century_arts_in_rome_2018

jennifer allora & guillermo calzadilla

1974, Philadelphia, United States & 1971, Havana, Cuba

Over the past twenty years, Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla have developed an expansive and experimental body of work. Through sculpture, performance, video, sound and photography in varying combinations, they evoke contemporary geopolitics, cultural artifacts and the ‘deep time’ of archaeological history. They give meaning to their artistic research by delving into and questioning the structural and narrative conventions of storytelling and the potential of language and materiality. Allora & Calzadilla studied the cooperative and catalytic nature of impromptu collective drawing with ephemeral materials, at the Lima biennial in Peru (Chalk [Lima], 1998–2002); the imprints of colonial, nationalist, and military violence on the diverse populations and landscapes of Vieques, Puerto Rico (Landmark, 2001–2002); and the resonance of playing, warping, and combining music from various moments in history (Clamor, 2006; Stop, Repair, Prepare: Variations on “Ode to Joy” for a Prepared Piano, 2008; and Raptor’s Rapture, 2012). Their projects challenge viewers to build meaning through a literal, metaphorical, evidential and political reading of the work, and also to participate, as an experience that heightens aesthetic sensibility.

Jennifer Allora received her BA from the University of Richmond in Virginia (1996) and MS from MIT- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2003); Guillermo Calzadilla completed his BFA from the Escuela de Artes Plásticas in Puerto Rico (1996) and MFA from Bard College in New York (2001). Collaborating since 1995, Allora & Calzadilla have been the recipients of numerous grants and awards, from foundations such as the Gwangju Biennial (2004); Penny McCall Foundation (2003); Joan Mitchell Foundation (2002) and the Cintas Fellowship (2002-2001). In 2006 they were finalists for both the Hugo Boss Prize and the Nam June Paik Award.

Allora & Calzadilla live and work in San Juan, Puerto Rico

download full CV

Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails

chalk, 1998/2002/2004

plaster

set of 12 chalks

8 in. diameter x 64 in. long 

electromagnetic field, 3, 2020

iron filings on linen canvas

40 x 30 in.

electromagnetic field, 4, 2020

iron filings on linen canvas

40 x 30 in.

solar satastrophe, 2016

broken solar cells on canvas

7 x 12 ft.

solar satastrophe, 2016

broken solar cells on canvas

7 x 12 ft.

shape shifter, 2013

sandpaper sheets glued on canvas

99.41 x 73.82 in.

shape shifter, 2013

sandpaper sheets glued on canvas

96 x 72 in.

shape shifter, 2013

sandpaper sheets glued on canvas

96 x 72 in.

the great silence, 2014

three channel  hd video, color, sound

text by ted chiang

16:22 min

installation view of intervals, the fabric workshop and museum, philadelphia, 2014
photo: carlos avendaño

 

 

the great silence, 2014

three channel color hd video with sound

text by ted chiang

16:22 min

installation view of intervals, the fabric workshop and museum, philadelphia, 2014
photo: carlos avendaño

the great silence, 2014

three channel hd video color, sound

text by ted chiang
16:22 min
still image

 

 

 

stop, repair prepare: variations on "ode to joy" for a prepared piano, 2008

prepared bechstein piano, pianist (andrea giehl depicted)

40 x 67 x 84 in.

installation view of stop, repair prepare: variations on "ode to joy" for a prepared piano, haus der kunst, munich, 2008

photo: marino solokhov

clamor, 2006

plaster, foam, pigment, live performance including 1 tubist, 1 trumpeter, 2 trombonists, 1 flutist, 1 drummer

40:00 min pre-recorded soundtrack

365 x 207 x 64 in.

installation view of allora & calzadilla, kunsthalle zurich, 2007

photo: a. burger

sediments, sentiments (figures of speech), 2007

plaster, foam, pigment, pre-recorded sound, live opera singers

variable dimensions

installation view of sediments, sentiments (figures of speech), san francisco art institute, san francisco, 2007

body in flight (american), 2011

stained wood, gymnasts (dave durante, 2007 us all-around gymnastics champion, depicted)

variable dimensions

installation view of gloria, us pavilion, presented by the indianapolis museum of art, 54th international art exhibition, venice biennale, 2011

photo: andrew bordwin

 

body in flight (delta), 2011

stained wood, gymnasts (sadie wilhelmi, usa gymnastics, depicted)
variable dimensions 
installation view of gloria, us pavilion, presented by the indianapolis museum of art, 54th international art exhibition, venice biennale, 2011
photo: andrew bordwin

track and field, 2011

tank and treadmill, runner (dan o'brien, 1996 olympic decathlon gold medalist, depicted)

300 x 144 x 120 in.

installation view of gloria, us pavilion, presented by the indianapolis museum of art, 54th international art exhibition, venice biennale, 2011
photo: andrew bordwin

algorithm, 2011
atm, pipe organ, computer
232.38 x 120.13 x 59.13 in.
installation view of gloria, us pavilion, presented by the indianapolis museum of art, 54th international art exhibition, venice biennale, 2011
photo: andrew bordwin

half mast/full mast, 2010

dual channel high definition video projection, color, silent

21:11 min

still image

 

hope hippo, 2005

mud, whistle, daily newspaper, reader

192 x 72 x 60 in.

installation view of always a little further, 51st international art exhibition, venice biennale, 2005
photo: giorgio boata

petrified petrol pump, 2011

black lava, travertine stone

75 x 11.6 x 29 in.

sweat glands sweat lands, 2006

video transferred to dvd, color, sound

2:21 min

still image

growth, 2004

plant grafts, grafting tape. left to right: pathycerus pecto-abrigine and pachycereus pringlei; marginato cergus marginatus and pilosocerens; tricho cereus hertringinnis, pilosocerens azureus, and wetoerocereus yohnstonii; isocato cereus pumortgrii and pilosocereus hu

variable dimensions 

installation view of (en)tropics, galerie chantal crousel, paris, 2006

 

compass, 2009

suspended wooden drop ceiling, dancers (raymundo vega, depicted)

variable dimensions
installation view of compass, kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2011
photo: michel zabé

 

compass, 2009

suspended wooden drop ceiling, dancers (raymundo vega, depicted)

variable dimensions
installation view of compass, kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2011
photo: michel zabé

land mark (foot prints), 2002

24 color photographs

20 x 24 in. each

land mark, 1999-2003

felt

576 x 1140 in. approximately

commissioned for "common wealth," at the tate modern, october-december 2003 and "land mark," escuela de artes plásticas, san juan, puerto rico, summer 2003
intallation view of common wealth, tate modern, london, 2003

 

 

intermission (halloween iraq iv), 2010

handmade print from wood template (ink on muslin)

120 x 168 in.

 

returning a sound, 2004

single channel standard definition video, color, sound

5:42 min

installation view of (en)tropics, galerie chantal crousel, paris, 2006

returning a sound, 2004

single channel standard definition video, color, sound

5:42 min
installation view of (en)tropics, galerie chantal crousel, 2006

 

 

returning a sound, 2004

single channel standard definition video, color, sound
5:42 min

 

 

raptor's rapture, 2012
single channel hd video, color, sound
23:30 min

 

 

raptor's rapture, 2012

single channel hd video, color, sound

23:30 min

 

raptor's rapture, 2012

single channel color hd video, with sound

23:30 min

 

apatome, 2013
super 16mm color film transferred to hd video, color, sound
23:09 min

still images

 

 

 

apatome, 2013
super 16mm color film transferred to hd video, color, sound
23:09 min

installation view of jennifer alllora & guillermo calzadilla,, galerie chantal crousel, paris, 2013
photo: marc domage

apatome, 2013

super 16mm color film transferred to hd video, color, sound

23:09 min

installation view of jennifer allora & guillermo calzadilla, galerie chantal crousel, paris, 2013
photo: marc domage

 

intervals, 2014

re-configured acrylic lecterns, dinosaur bones

variable dimensions 
installation view of intervals, the fabric workshop and museum, philadelphia, 2014

photo: carlos avendaño

lifespan, 2014

hadean period rock sample and 3 vocalists. performed by the crossing, composition by david lang (steven bradshaw, depicted)

approximately 15:00 min

installation view of intervals, the fabric workshop and museum, philadelphia, 2014
photo: carlos avendaño

3, 2013
super 16mm film transferred to hd video, color, sound

18:22 min

 

3, 2013

super 16mm film transferred to hd video, color, sound

18:22 min

 

chalk, 1998-2002
12 chalks
8 x 8 x 64 in.

installation view, pasaje santa rosa, III bienal iberoamericana de lima, 2002
photo: allora & calzadilla

 

 

 

 

cyclonic palm tree, 2004

palm tree, fan, motor

variable dimensions 
installation view of ciclonismo, galerie chantal crousel, paris, 2004

 

 

a man screaming is not a dancing bear, 2008

super 16mm film transferred to hd video, color, sound

11:15 min

still image

 

a man screaming is not a dancing bear, 2008

super 16mm film transferred to hd video, color, sound

11:15 min

still image

 

a man screaming is not a dancing bear, 2008

super 16mm film transferred to hd video, color, sound

11:15 min
still image

 

 

under discussion, 2005

standard definition video, color, sound

6:14 min
still image

under discussion, 2005

standard definition video, color, sound

6:14 min

still image

 

contract (AOC I), 2014
silkscreen on linen

72 x 96 in.

 

 

contract (swmu 7), 2014

silkscreen on linen

72 x 96 in.

 

chalk, 1998/2002/2004

plaster

set of 12 chalks

8 in. diameter x 64 in. long 

electromagnetic field, 3, 2020

iron filings on linen canvas

40 x 30 in.

electromagnetic field, 4, 2020

iron filings on linen canvas

40 x 30 in.

solar satastrophe, 2016

broken solar cells on canvas

7 x 12 ft.

solar satastrophe, 2016

broken solar cells on canvas

7 x 12 ft.

shape shifter, 2013

sandpaper sheets glued on canvas

99.41 x 73.82 in.

shape shifter, 2013

sandpaper sheets glued on canvas

96 x 72 in.

shape shifter, 2013

sandpaper sheets glued on canvas

96 x 72 in.

the great silence, 2014

three channel  hd video, color, sound

text by ted chiang

16:22 min

installation view of intervals, the fabric workshop and museum, philadelphia, 2014
photo: carlos avendaño

 

 

the great silence, 2014

three channel color hd video with sound

text by ted chiang

16:22 min

installation view of intervals, the fabric workshop and museum, philadelphia, 2014
photo: carlos avendaño

the great silence, 2014

three channel hd video color, sound

text by ted chiang
16:22 min
still image

 

 

 

stop, repair prepare: variations on "ode to joy" for a prepared piano, 2008

prepared bechstein piano, pianist (andrea giehl depicted)

40 x 67 x 84 in.

installation view of stop, repair prepare: variations on "ode to joy" for a prepared piano, haus der kunst, munich, 2008

photo: marino solokhov

clamor, 2006

plaster, foam, pigment, live performance including 1 tubist, 1 trumpeter, 2 trombonists, 1 flutist, 1 drummer

40:00 min pre-recorded soundtrack

365 x 207 x 64 in.

installation view of allora & calzadilla, kunsthalle zurich, 2007

photo: a. burger

sediments, sentiments (figures of speech), 2007

plaster, foam, pigment, pre-recorded sound, live opera singers

variable dimensions

installation view of sediments, sentiments (figures of speech), san francisco art institute, san francisco, 2007

body in flight (american), 2011

stained wood, gymnasts (dave durante, 2007 us all-around gymnastics champion, depicted)

variable dimensions

installation view of gloria, us pavilion, presented by the indianapolis museum of art, 54th international art exhibition, venice biennale, 2011

photo: andrew bordwin

 

body in flight (delta), 2011

stained wood, gymnasts (sadie wilhelmi, usa gymnastics, depicted)
variable dimensions 
installation view of gloria, us pavilion, presented by the indianapolis museum of art, 54th international art exhibition, venice biennale, 2011
photo: andrew bordwin

track and field, 2011

tank and treadmill, runner (dan o'brien, 1996 olympic decathlon gold medalist, depicted)

300 x 144 x 120 in.

installation view of gloria, us pavilion, presented by the indianapolis museum of art, 54th international art exhibition, venice biennale, 2011
photo: andrew bordwin

algorithm, 2011
atm, pipe organ, computer
232.38 x 120.13 x 59.13 in.
installation view of gloria, us pavilion, presented by the indianapolis museum of art, 54th international art exhibition, venice biennale, 2011
photo: andrew bordwin

half mast/full mast, 2010

dual channel high definition video projection, color, silent

21:11 min

still image

 

hope hippo, 2005

mud, whistle, daily newspaper, reader

192 x 72 x 60 in.

installation view of always a little further, 51st international art exhibition, venice biennale, 2005
photo: giorgio boata

petrified petrol pump, 2011

black lava, travertine stone

75 x 11.6 x 29 in.

sweat glands sweat lands, 2006

video transferred to dvd, color, sound

2:21 min

still image

growth, 2004

plant grafts, grafting tape. left to right: pathycerus pecto-abrigine and pachycereus pringlei; marginato cergus marginatus and pilosocerens; tricho cereus hertringinnis, pilosocerens azureus, and wetoerocereus yohnstonii; isocato cereus pumortgrii and pilosocereus hu

variable dimensions 

installation view of (en)tropics, galerie chantal crousel, paris, 2006

 

compass, 2009

suspended wooden drop ceiling, dancers (raymundo vega, depicted)

variable dimensions
installation view of compass, kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2011
photo: michel zabé

 

compass, 2009

suspended wooden drop ceiling, dancers (raymundo vega, depicted)

variable dimensions
installation view of compass, kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2011
photo: michel zabé

land mark (foot prints), 2002

24 color photographs

20 x 24 in. each

land mark, 1999-2003

felt

576 x 1140 in. approximately

commissioned for "common wealth," at the tate modern, october-december 2003 and "land mark," escuela de artes plásticas, san juan, puerto rico, summer 2003
intallation view of common wealth, tate modern, london, 2003

 

 

intermission (halloween iraq iv), 2010

handmade print from wood template (ink on muslin)

120 x 168 in.

 

returning a sound, 2004

single channel standard definition video, color, sound

5:42 min

installation view of (en)tropics, galerie chantal crousel, paris, 2006

returning a sound, 2004

single channel standard definition video, color, sound

5:42 min
installation view of (en)tropics, galerie chantal crousel, 2006

 

 

returning a sound, 2004

single channel standard definition video, color, sound
5:42 min

 

 

raptor's rapture, 2012
single channel hd video, color, sound
23:30 min

 

 

raptor's rapture, 2012

single channel hd video, color, sound

23:30 min

 

raptor's rapture, 2012

single channel color hd video, with sound

23:30 min

 

apatome, 2013
super 16mm color film transferred to hd video, color, sound
23:09 min

still images

 

 

 

apatome, 2013
super 16mm color film transferred to hd video, color, sound
23:09 min

installation view of jennifer alllora & guillermo calzadilla,, galerie chantal crousel, paris, 2013
photo: marc domage

apatome, 2013

super 16mm color film transferred to hd video, color, sound

23:09 min

installation view of jennifer allora & guillermo calzadilla, galerie chantal crousel, paris, 2013
photo: marc domage

 

intervals, 2014

re-configured acrylic lecterns, dinosaur bones

variable dimensions 
installation view of intervals, the fabric workshop and museum, philadelphia, 2014

photo: carlos avendaño

lifespan, 2014

hadean period rock sample and 3 vocalists. performed by the crossing, composition by david lang (steven bradshaw, depicted)

approximately 15:00 min

installation view of intervals, the fabric workshop and museum, philadelphia, 2014
photo: carlos avendaño

3, 2013
super 16mm film transferred to hd video, color, sound

18:22 min

 

3, 2013

super 16mm film transferred to hd video, color, sound

18:22 min

 

chalk, 1998-2002
12 chalks
8 x 8 x 64 in.

installation view, pasaje santa rosa, III bienal iberoamericana de lima, 2002
photo: allora & calzadilla

 

 

 

 

cyclonic palm tree, 2004

palm tree, fan, motor

variable dimensions 
installation view of ciclonismo, galerie chantal crousel, paris, 2004

 

 

a man screaming is not a dancing bear, 2008

super 16mm film transferred to hd video, color, sound

11:15 min

still image

 

a man screaming is not a dancing bear, 2008

super 16mm film transferred to hd video, color, sound

11:15 min

still image

 

a man screaming is not a dancing bear, 2008

super 16mm film transferred to hd video, color, sound

11:15 min
still image

 

 

under discussion, 2005

standard definition video, color, sound

6:14 min
still image

under discussion, 2005

standard definition video, color, sound

6:14 min

still image

 

contract (AOC I), 2014
silkscreen on linen

72 x 96 in.

 

 

contract (swmu 7), 2014

silkscreen on linen

72 x 96 in.

 

notable solo exhibitions

notable solo exhibitions

A selection of their most notable projects and recent exhibitions include: Chalk, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, United States (2019); Blackout. Allora & Calzadilla, MAXXI, Rome (2018); Unspecified Promise, Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, United States (2017); Allora & Calzadilla: Echo to Artifact, Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA), Edmonton, Canada (2016); Puerto Rican Light (Cueva Vientos), a DIA Art Foundation commission in the Southern Coast of Puerto Rico (2015); Intervals, Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Fabric Workshop and Museum, United States (2014); Fault Lines, Fondazione Nicola Trussardi at the Palazzo Cusani, Milan, Italy (2013); Gloria, US Pavilion at the 54th Venice Biennial (2011); Performance 9: Allora & Calzadilla, MoMA- Museum of Modern Art, New York (2010); Allora & Calzadilla, Nasjonalmuseet, Oslo, Norway (2009); Stop, Repair, Prepare: Variations on “Ode to Joy” for a Prepared Piano, Haus der Kunst München, Munich, Germany (2008); Never Mind That Noise You Heard, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (2008); Clamor, Serpentine Gallery, London (2007); Allora & Calzadilla, Kunsthalle Zürich, Switzerland (2007); Wake Up, The Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago, United States (2017); Jennifer Allora & Guillermo Calzadilla, S.M.A.K.-Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst, Ghent, Belgium (2006); Land Mark, Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2006).

selected group exhibitions and biennials

Their work has also been curated into numerous group exhibitions at institutions such as: Centre Pompidou, Paris (2019); The National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan (2018); National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), Seoul, South Korea (2017); Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), (2017); an exhibition by Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA at Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles (2017); South London Gallery, United Kingdom (2016); MAMM-Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín, Colombia (2016); Royal Academy of Arts, London (2016); Centre Pompidou, Paris (2014); Guggenheim Museum, New York (2014);  Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris (2013); Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León MUSAC, Spain (2011); Princeton University Art Museum, United States (2010); The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, Toronto, Canada (2010); Aspen Art Museum, United States (2010); Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo, Brazil (2009); New Museum, New York (2008); Museion - museo d’arte moderna e contemporanea di Bolzano, Italy (2008); Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, United States (2007); Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, United States (2007); Mori Art Museum, Tokyo (2007); Grand Palais, Paris (2006); Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum für Gegenwart, Berlin, (2006), among many others.

Allora & Calzadilla have also participated in various international biennials, notably: Sharjah Biennial 13, Tamawuj, United Arab Emirates (2017); International Art Exhibition at the 56th Venice Biennial (2015); 10th and 7th Gwangju Biennale, South Korea (2014 and 2008); 9a and 6a Bienal do Mercosul, Porto Alegre, Brazil (2013 and 2007); 30th Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts, Slovenia (2013); dOCUMENTA (13), Kassel, Germany (2012); 12. and 10. Istanbul Biennial, Turkey (2011 and 2007); 29a and 14a Bienal de São Paulo, Brazil (2010 and 1998); 16th Biennale of Sydney, Australia (2008); 9e Biennale de Lyon, France (2007); 1st and 2nd Moscow International Biennale of Contemporary Art (2005 and 2007); Sharjah Biennial 8, United Arab Emirates (2007); Whitney Biennial 2006, New York; the International Art Exhibition at the 51st Venice Biennial (2005); 2nd Guangzhou Triennial, Guangzhou, China (2005); 6e Biennale de l’Art africain contemporain, DAK’ART, Dakar, Senegal (2004); III Bienal Iberoamericana de Lima, Peru (2002); 8 Bienal de la Habana, Havana, Cuba (2000).

Video