Emil Lime - VVAA
Emil Lime is a book made in parallel to the homonymous show held at CA2M Madrid in 2023, by Esther Gatón. The palindromic title, whose spelling is the same both forwards and backwards, invokes Gatón’s interest in popular spectacles relating to an attraction to instability, fear, and adrenaline, and the ways in which these emotions manifest themselves both in the visitor’s body and in society at large.
The book collects various materials that nurture and shape Gatón´s artistic practice. She invited Fredy Massad, María Fernanda Ampuero and Darya Diamond, who, together with curator of the show Cory John Scozzari, wrote specific texts in response to the work and its concerns. In addition, Emil Lime includes collages made with Gatón´s phone pics, sketches, sporadic notes and preparatory drawings.
• 𝘈 𝘙𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘤𝘰𝘯, by Argentinian architect and critic Fredy Massad analyses architectural excesses committed in the Spanish territory during the mid-2000s. The essay differentiates "monumentality" from "icon", rethinking the latter's capability of reviving locality, and social urban value.
• 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘴, by Ecuadorian writer and journalist María Fernanda Ampuero, is a fictional and poetic text inspired by the disembarkation of the caravels in Latin America. It combines the horrified voices in visions of what the apparition of boats might have unleashed.
• 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘔𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 by American artist and writer Darya Diamond, describes her living conditions in a shelter, where she also works. Bringing together personal anecdotes and theoretical references, she speaks of the "intertwining of the self and the place, utility and adaptation, the horribly divine energy of the mothership." (Quote)
Cory John Scozzari wrote 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, on the making of the show with Esther. His text makes sense of the crossovers and amazements of the process, sharing their one-year subjective trip and multiple encounters.
Finally, there's a conversation between Cory John and Esther, written during the installation days of the show in Móstoles, Madrid. That was the first time they were able to see the motorized sculpture, swinging and vibrating in space.
Bilingual Spanish/English, hardcover and colour printed, made in collaboration between CA2M Museum Madrid and WIELS Brussels.
This book was produced in collaboration between CA2M Madrid and WIELS Brussels.
Design by Olivier Bertrand. Editorial coordination: Jonathan Franz. Translations by María Enguix and George Hutton.