On the occasion of Art Basel in Basel 2022 Superblue and BMW i present Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: “Pulse Topology”. This art installation uses new technology to create an immersive chorus of 6,000 heartbeats.

Munich/Basel. On the occasion of Art Basel in Basel 2022, Superblue and BMW i are proud to present the latest biometric artwork in an ongoing series by Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. The installation “Pulse Topology” invites visitors to enjoy the poetry of a human-centric approach to technological innovations. “Pulse Topology” will be presented in the foyer of Design Miami/ Basel from June 14 to 19. Furthermore, BMW will be presenting the seventh edition of the BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors at the event. As an official partner of the Art Basel in Basel show, BMW will again provide a VIP car service. 

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Superblue and BMW i share a vision to create forward looking experiences that look towards a sustainable future where art and technology can create human experiences for retreat, joy and social connection. A foremost principle for BMW i is creating a new understanding of luxury into an era that will be shaped by groundbreaking innovations in the fields of sustainability and digitalization. Central to this reinterpretation is the BMW i7 which has inspired the collaboration.

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s “Pulse Topology”
“Pulse Topology” is composed of 6.000 lightbulbs suspended at different heights, creating a series of crests and valleys – an intimate landscape that visitors are invited to traverse. Each lightbulb glimmers to the pulse of a previous participant. Custom-made pulse sensors record visitors’ new heartbeats; when a participant interacts with the installation, their pulse is added to the canopy of recordings above them, replacing the oldest recording.

Forming a platform for self-representation, in “Pulse Topology” individual heartbeats come together to create an immersive chorus of light and sound. Translating an interior force to an exterior form, Lozano-Hemmer makes tangible the otherwise invisible register of the heartbeat, which glows and then fades in the spirit of a memento mori. Lozano-Hemmer’s visionary application of biometrics in new, unexpected contexts reveals the creative potential of cross-disciplinary collaborations between the spheres of art and science.

Recognized for his participatory installations Lozano-Hemmer’s works are activated by viewers’ real-time biometric data such as their heartbeats, breaths, voices or fingerprints – pushing the nature of public engagement to its very limits. This presentation in Basel, Switzerland, will be “Pulse Topology's” first exhibition in Europe, and the largest to date.

Inspired by conversations with BMW engineers and designers, Lozano-Hemmer and his studio will use the same technology as in “Pulse Topology” to activate the BMW i7’s interior with a visitor’s heartbeat tangible in light, sound and graphics. This symbiotic relationship can be seen as an extension of the i7’s use of light to create a meaningful connection with its driver.

The new BMW i7 has inspired the collaboration with Rafael Lozano-Hemmer:  The all-electric sedan clearly demonstrates how an exclusive driving experience, and the ultimate feeling of on-board wellbeing can be combined with the fields of sustainability and digitalization. A human-centered approach to the use of light both in the exterior and interior shapes the individual experience here as well. The iconic kidney grille and crystal headlights glimmer when the driver approaches their car, and a light carpet is revealed upon opening the door. The interior of the vehicle is illuminated in different scenarios selected by the driver according to the mood they wish to immerse themselves in – Relax, Expressive or Sport.

With this presentation, BMW i and Superblue build on their collaborative work at the junction of immersive experiences, art and technology following the successful premiere of DRIFT’s “Franchise Freedom” at Art Basel in Miami Beach 2017 and Random International’s “No One is an Island” at Frieze London 2021.  

The 7th BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors
On the occasion of Art Basel in Basel and the launch of the new BMW 7 Series, BMW will also unveil the seventh edition of the BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors in the Foyer of Design Miami/ Basel on June 15. The expanded new edition of the BMW Art Guide is a one-of-a-kind exploration to private collections accessible to the public worldwide and illustrates 304 private collections in 51 countries and 224 cities – some of which are opening their doors for the very first time. The venues include vibrant metropolises in Europe and Africa, Asia and America, and places well off the beaten track – from the heights of the Swiss Alps to the depths of the Norwegian fjords. The 7^th BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors is published by Hatje Cantz and also available as an e-book.

To visit the exhibition please note that entrance tickets are required:
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s “Pulse Topology”
at Design Miami/ Basel, Eventhall 1.0 South, Messe Basel

June 14 – 19 (entrance possible with Art Basel in Basel First Choice or Preview as well as Design Miami/ VIP tickets and public Design Miami/ tickets)

Tuesday – Wednesday, 11am – 8pm
Thursday – Sunday, 11am – 7pm

If you have any questions, please contact: 

Prof. Dr Thomas Girst
BMW Group Corporate and Governmental Affairs
Head of Cultural Engagement
Telephone: +49 89 382 24753
Email: Thomas.Girst@bmwgroup.com

www.press.bmwgroup.com/global
E-Mail: presse@bmw.de

Sarah McNaughton
Superblue
Resnicow and Associates
Telephone: +1 212 671 5161
Email: superblue@resnicow.com