Chemtrails are those long-lasting trails appearing constantly in the sky. This (non-oficial) neologism constitutes one of the most emblematic cases within the conspiracy theories, an alternative knowledge corpus which contradicts the prevailing understanding of history or simple facts, around politics and economy.
Chemtrails is also the title of a curatorial project that investigates the Narrative on Contemporary Art, in relation to popular culture from conspiracy theories and urban legends, due to its critical potential, its viral dissemination and its capacity to generate myths and imaginaries. In 1957, Roland Barthes wrote a book on the contemporary mithology, in which he listed the key issues which configured the bourgeouis society’s scale of values and imaginary. Wrestling, Hollywood, guide books or advertisements are some of the referencies established by Barthers as myths of his own time. In order to updating those case studies, we should include a long chapter focus on urban legends and conspiracy theories as, in between alternative media and fiction, it plays a key role in contemporary mithology.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_conspiracy_theories
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyenda_urbana
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Chemtrails is a curatorial project developed along with Paco Chanivet, Alejandra Avilés, Eliana Beltrán and Rafael Perez Evans, artists in residency at Hangar.
Jaime González Cela and Manuela Pedrón Nicolau are Encura curators-in-residence at Hangar (Barcelona, ES), in association with Curators’ Network.
Hangar is a centre for art research and production located in Barcelona, Spain. Hangar’s mission is to support visual artists and other cultural agents during the different moments of their art production processes as well as to contribute to the best development of their projects. Hangar facilitates equipment, facilities, production assistance and a suitable context for free experimentation and knowledge transfer. Hangar is located in the Poblenou neighborhood in Barcelona and in a mid 19th Century that was originally designed for the textile industry. At present, and after the centre was extended to the adjacent warehouses, the buildings used by Hangar cover a total surface of 2,600 m2.
