The performative installation ‘chamber III. through the surface’ is the continuation of a series of works by the Vienna-based Mexican artist Guadalupe Aldrete, which deal with the various physical aspects of cultural memory. The artist takes her own background as the main source of inspiration, but also refers to general human themes and the cross-generational nature of somatic memory.

The focus of ‘chamber III. through the surface’ is to explore the relationships between family members and their intangible heritage that is passed down through generations. In the third part in particular, the artist questions the roles and traumas that we ‘inherit’ from our families. In this way, the artist aims to strengthen the recipients’ capacity for self-determination and open up a conscious approach to their cultural, social and familial heritage. At the same time, she is looking for ways to break these patterns in order to enable a fulfilled life and prevent trauma from being passed on.

In this sense, Aldrete’s installation questions the connections between personal and traditional experiences and helps to contribute to a deeper understanding of intergenerational memory and its close connection to cultural heritage. Last but not least, the artist’s work attempts to gain insights into our human capacity for transcendence.

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This immersive installation was activated by four 

performances, each 20 minutes, diving into themes of ancestral and intergenerational body memory. Using her own heritage as inspiration, Aldrete explored the roles, relationships, and traumas we inherit, inviting us to reflect on what we carry forward — and what we choose to let go.⁣

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Project curated by Marcello Farabegoli