SARP presents two exhibitions showcasing André Hemer’s work developed during his 2022 SARP Residency, first at Luis De Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles and later at SARP Gallery in Sicily. The project explores landscapes in various global locations, including Sicily, Singapore, Los Angeles, and Bangkok, blending these with Hemer’s vast digital archives. His focus is on the elusive light at dusk and sky brightness, often filtered by clouds. The exhibition features a site-specific digital sculpture, inspired by Venetian 18th-century paintings and environmental phenomena like dust storms and cloud formations. This sculpture incorporates elements of Sicily’s Etna, the gardens of Palazzo Previtera, and the Mediterranean climate.
Hemer uses generative adversarial networks (GANs) to manipulate digital pigments, revealing both the beauty of the sky and the environmental degradation caused by human activity. The installation is interactive, with the digital sculpture placed centrally in the gallery, surrounded by water, emphasizing the reflective nature of his work. Water symbolizes both technical aspects (reflection) and conceptual elements (climate change). Hemer’s multi-disciplinary approach merges art, science, and technology, offering a reflective commentary on sustainability, climate change, and the impact of human activity on the environment.