Conchetumare. Ciento cincuenta millones de años 2018

In Francis Naranjo's video projection, Conchetumare. Ciento cincuenta millones de años, we see a landscape, vast and ancient, meeting a stark, black flag planted in the sand. I find myself wondering about Naranjo’s state of mind while making this work. What thoughts occupied his mind as he filmed this scene, this desert vista under a clear sky? The flag—is it a claim, a question, or an intervention? The texture of the landscape, the harshness of the light, and the boldness of the black flag—all these elements conspire to create a feeling of stark isolation and surreal beauty. It reminds me of the Land Art movement, but with a distinctly personal, almost defiant gesture. It's as if Naranjo is in conversation with the earth itself, marking a spot and asking, “What does it all mean?” I feel like artists are always asking these kinds of big questions, in their own way, and this piece is a poignant example of how we use art to explore, to challenge, and to make sense of our place in the world.