In the midst of loss and isolation, an artist’s anti-monument, “A Crack in the Hourglass” (2021), brings communities together to mourn, remember, and feel connected again. 

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is most interested in monuments that “disappear, question themselves, that complicate some of the stories that we tell ourselves.” This anti-monumental approach creates platforms for self-representation through large-scale participatory installations such as “A Crack in the Hourglass” (2021). Shown at the Brooklyn Museum in 2022, the artwork memorializes those lost to COVID-19. After hearing stories of families and friends unable to gather and grieve, Lozano-Hemmer and his studio team decided to “create a way for people to be able to come together and remember our loss.” Through custom software, a robotic arm, sand, and a live video feed, the artist has provided an opportunity for communities to experience an event which memorializes their loved ones. Anyone can submit a photograph to www.acrackinthehourglass.net and gather remotely or in-person to watch a portrait of a friend or family member be drawn by the artwork. 

A single body of sand produces each of the hundreds of portraits over the course of the installation. After a portrait is complete, the image tilts and the sand slides away to be recycled. In the face of an invisible virus, Lozano-Hemmer hopes to build “a sense of universal solidarity” and connect the individuals depicted in the installation. “The ephemeral helps us remember,” states Lozano-Hemmer.