Oswaldo Macia at Chelsea space

The Library of Cynicism: the archaeology of sound and smell

Oswaldo Maciá

Private View: 4 June 2013, 6.00 – 8.30pm

Exhibition: 5 June – 20 July 2013

CHELSEA space presents a new work by Oswaldo Maciá, taking the form of an olfactory–acoustic sculptural composition. The Library of Cynicism takes the ancient Greek figure of Diogenes as a starting point to undo assumptions of truth and belief through a sound and smell experiment with objects.

Through his sound-sculptures, smell-sculptures, videos and installations Maciá creates encounters that initiate and reflect upon multiple relationships with what we believe and understand to be truth and reality. His practice sets out to complicate what we think we know by offering counterperceptions.

These are proposals to look harder, listen more acutely and pay attention to all of our senses in order that we might think deeper about the structures of knowledge we rely on to construct knowledge.

Oswaldo Maciá has exhibited internationally, with his current and forthcoming presentations including the group exhibitions Cantos Cuentos Colombianos at Casa Daros, Rio de Janeiro, the exhibition-event Fluxus in Atlanta and during the opening week of The Library of Cynicism his work features in the 2013 edition of Pinta Modern & Contemporary Latin American Art, London. Other recent projects include Manifesta 9, Belgium, 8th Bienal do Mercosul, Brazil and the XI Bienal de Cuenca, Ecuador (where he was awarded the Bienal Prize. Maciá has work in collections that include Tate and Daros.

Oswaldo Macia
at Chelsea Space

Chelsea College of Art and Design is one of the world’s leading art and design institutions.

Located at Millbank, next door to Tate Britain, Chelsea specialises in Fine Art, Graphic Design and Interior and Textiles Design. Since its origins in the 19th century, the College has produced many of the greatest names in the arts, including: Quentin Blake (illustrator and author) Ralph Fiennes (film and stage actor), Anish Kapoor (sculptor), Steve McQueen, (artist), Chris Ofili (artist), Alan Rickman (film and stage actor), Alexei Sayle (comedian) and Gavin Turk (sculptor).

Operating at the heart of the world’s creative capital, University of the Arts London is a vibrant international centre for innovative teaching and research in arts, design, fashion, communication and the performing arts. The University is made up of six Colleges: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, Chelsea College of Art and Design, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Art. Renowned names in the cultural and creative sectors produced by the University include 12 Turner prize winners and over half of all nominees, 10 out of 17 fashion designers named British Designer of the Year, more than half of the designers showcased in London Fashion Week and 12 out of 30 winners of the Jerwood Photography Award.