The End of Imagination VI and The End of Imagination VII are newly commissioned sculptural works by Adrián Villar Rojas for the Fondation Beyeler & Luma Foundation’s Dance with Daemon (Summer Group Show). With contributions by several artists the show is conceived as a “living organism” that changes and transforms throughout its duration.

These sculptures continue Villar Rojas’s ongoing series, The End of Imagination, first shown in 2022 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Employing his "Time Engine," a sophisticated amalgamation of software grounded in procedural generation and Artificial Intelligence, the artist has delved deeper into digital ecologies. 

Both The End of Imagination VI and VII feature an otherworldly fusion of everyday objects with unexpected life forms. Each sculpture plays host to mutant living and non-living parasites. Four biomorphic robot arms clasp the washing machine's door, with twisting appendages reaching up to the Beyeler's ceiling. These threadlike extensions appear to both support and be burdened by the institution's weight. Within a refrigerator, a TV and a microwave are nestled within its two shelves. The TV displays a live stream of static, with 3% of the signal being vestigial radiation from the Big Bang—the blast that created the universe. The entire sculpture is a readymade that contains all, making it the container of containers. The sculptures not only transform mundane human-made objects but also imbue them with a new essence, exploring the intersection of technology, biology, and art. 

These pieces are not merely sculptures; they are living, buzzing ecosystems that challenge our understanding of time and existence.—Adrián Villar Rojas

The End of Imagination series represents a significant turning point in Villar Rojas's artistic practice, showcasing his exploration into digital and physical processes that redefine our understanding of form and substance.

+ about adrián villar rojas

+ about fondation beyeler & luma foundation's summer exhibition