(H) by Daniel Martínez at Standard/Deluxe

(H) explores the paradoxical condition of a life-giving yet brutal particle, pointing out scenarios of connectedness as an act of resistance against today’s socio-environmental fragmentation.

Overview

Hydrogen was the first element to emerge after the Big Bang. It is the simplest and lightest of all chemical elements, yet it accounts for 90% of all atoms in the universe. It also composes the water molecule, covering nearly three-quarters of the Earth’s surface and about the same proportion of the human body.

In a sense, hydrogen forms the basis of life. However, it’s also used to create the most destructive weapon ever made: the hydrogen bomb, in which a thermonuclear fusion process similar to that of the Sun is recreated, unleashing a destructive force far greater than that of atomic bombs.

(H) explores the paradoxical condition of a life-giving yet brutal particle. An omnipresent but ethereal, polarised but unifying element. Pointing out broader scenarios of connectedness as an act of resistance against today’s socio-environmental fragmentation.

The exhibition is supported by Le Canton de Vaud, La Ville de Lausanne, La Loterie Romande, Arts Visuels Vaud, and Pro Helvetia.

About The Artist

Daniel Martínez (b. 1995, Barcelona, Spain) is a visual artist based in Switzerland. His practice reflects upon environmental transformation and political ecologies, while exploring alternative epistemologies to expand the comprehension of the environment, the sense of inhabiting it. He holds a Master’s in Design (orientation Photography) from ÉCAL Lausanne, complemented by specialised training in documentary photography and graphic design. His work has been presented at major venues and festivals, featured in specialized journals, and acquired by public and private collections.