February 21 – May 4, 2025
Atmosphere of Sound: Sonic Art in Times of Climate Disruption
Exhibition at Fowler Museum in Los Angeles
Patricia Cadavid’s Electronic_Khipu is an instrument for interaction and experimental sound generation, operated by weaving knots with conductive rubber cords into which sound compositions are encoded. This instrument is based on an Andean quipu, the ancient textile “computer” used for the processing, encryption, and transmission of information in knots and cords of cotton and wool. KHIPUMANCY is a Performance Documentation Video that documents the performance of KHIPUMANCY, presented at the Ars Electronica Festival in 2021. In this collaborative performance, Patricia Cadavid and Paola Torres Núñez del Prado explore the interplay between tradition and technology, performing with their respective khipus: the Electronic_Khipuand the ML: Knot() Khipu. Together, they reimagine the Andean khipu as instruments of sound, storytelling, and cultural resilience.
I am excited to share that my Electronic_khipu will be on display alongside video documentation of the khipumancy performance and an original 14th-century khipu at UCLA's Fowler Museum. This exhibition is part of the UCLA Art|Sci Center + Lab's "Atmosphere of Sound: Sonic Art in Times of Climate Disruption," presented by the Getty as part of PST ART: "Art & Science Collide."
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Victoria Vesna, Anuradha Vikram, Ivana Dama and the UCLA Art|Sci Center team for their trust and support in making this project a reality. Their patience and perseverance have made it possible for my work to be showcased next to an original khipu, something I never imagined would happen. Thank you!
