Obra Sonora
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (Mexican, b. 1967). Sphere Packing: Bach, 2018 (installation view, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Unstable Presence, Musée d'Art Contemporain de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada, 2018). Photo: Guy L'Heureux.
On exhibition
December 7, 2024 – June 15, 2025
Located on the third floor of The Baker Museum
For over three decades, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer has integrated art, science, architecture and technology into his trailblazing artistic practice. The celebrated Mexican-Canadian artist is known for his participatory installations, which have been showcased in major solo exhibitions at the Hirshhorn Museum, SFMOMA and Venice Biennale, among others. Organized by Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Obra Sonora (Spanish for “sound work”) features 14 artworks that engage and experiment with sound and music as its primary medium. The exhibition will feature pieces on loan from museums and foundations in the U.S., Turkey and Mexico, including one world premiere.
The exhibition includes monumental works such as Field Atmosphonia, a sound and light environment featuring 3,000 audio channels playing back natural field recordings; Volute 2, a speech bubble presented as an oversized aluminum sculpture; and Sphere Packing: Bach, a 10-foot diameter sphere that supports 1,128 loudspeakers — each playing a different composition by Johann Sebastian Bach. The artist states: “Within Obra Sonora, one room might invoke an interactive and intimate experience, while the next will loom with turbulent layers of noise; one work might showcase the power of a single speaking voice, while the next will mix the bellicose marches that make up most of the world’s national anthems.”
This will be the first museum exhibition to explore Lozano-Hemmer’s use of sound as a medium of expression and image-making, and it will be the largest-ever museum presentation of his work in the southeastern United States.
Visit the Exhibition
Reserve your museum tickets online.
Museum Admission
Selected Works
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (Mexican, b. 1967). Voice Array, 2011 (installation view, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Recorders, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia, 2011). Photo: Antimodular Studio.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (Mexican, b. 1967). Last Breath, 2012 (installation view, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Trackers, Fundación Telefónica, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2012). Photo: Antimodular Studio.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (Mexican, b. 1967). Field Atmosphonia, 2020 (installation view, Atmospheric Memory, Manchester International Festival, Museum of Applied Arts and Science, Sydney, Australia, 2023). Photo: Marinko Kojdanovski.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (Mexican, b. 1967). Sphere Packing Series, 2013 (installation view, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Pseudomatismos, MUAC Museum, Mexico City, Mexico, 2015). Photo: Courtesy of MUAC.
Associated Events
Artist Talk
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer
In Tangible Noise
December 7, 2024
Saturday at 11:30am
Rowe Center
For over three decades, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer has integrated art, science, architecture and technology into his trailblazing artistic practice. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Obra Sonora features monumental works like Field Atmosphonia, a sound and light environment with 3,000 audio channels; Volute 2, an oversized aluminum speech bubble sculpture; and Sphere Packing: Bach, a 10-foot sphere with 1,128 loudspeakers playing different Bach compositions. This is the first museum exhibition exploring Lozano-Hemmer’s use of sound as a medium. Join Lozano-Hemmer in conversation with art critic Michael Nardone.
Panel Discussion
On Sound and Art:
In Tangible Noise
December 7, 2024
Saturday at 1:30pm
Rowe Center
For over three decades, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer has integrated art, science, architecture and technology into his trailblazing artistic practice. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Obra Sonora features monumental works like Field Atmosphonia, a sound and light environment with 3,000 audio channels; Volute 2, an oversized aluminum speech bubble sculpture; and Sphere Packing: Bach, a 10-foot sphere with 1,128 loudspeakers playing different Bach compositions. This panel discussion will delve into the innovative ways Lozano-Hemmer explores sound as both a medium and subject in contemporary art.
Meditation Sessions
Field Atmosphonia A Meditation on Sound and Light
Multiple dates
Tuesday, January 21, 9:30am
Wednesday, February 19, 9:30am
Tuesday, March 25, 9:30am
Wednesday, April 16, 9:30am
The Baker Museum
Laurie Lyons, founder and director of Zen & the Arts
Immerse yourself in a transformative meditation at The Baker Museum, where Zen teacher Laurie Lyons guides you through an exploration of the boundary between listener and sound, surrounded by captivating light and immersive soundscapes.
Lecture
Storytelling Through Sound A Conversation with Alexander Shelley and Rafael Lozano-Hemmer
January 29, 2025
Wednesday at 6pm
Ubben Signature Event Space
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, artist
Alexander Shelley, artistic and music director
Sound can set the scene, evoke emotions, develop characters and drive stories forward. In Storytelling Through Sound, Artistic and Music Director Alexander Shelley and Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer discuss Lozano-Hemmer’s latest exhibition, which blends art, science, architecture and technology to explore narratives.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Obra Sonora is organized by Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum, with project leadership from Courtney McNeil, museum director and chief curator, and Libby Harrington, director of museum exhibitions and operations.
This exhibition is generously sponsored by Commerce Trust, the Collier County Tourist Development Council and Douglas M. VanOort.
This event is part of the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB festival
