Isabel Englebert

Statement

I am an Argentinian, post-conceptual artist working at the intersection of science, technology and philosophy. With a degree in Communication Sciences, and having taken several courses and independent research across very diverse disciplines, I have developed my unique poetic, material and conceptual practice valuing a vision where north and south meet. I extrapolate and juxtapose ideas and techniques from seemingly disconnected fields to engender a unique worldview.

Since my beginnings, my work has represented for me a tool of self-analysis, introspection and search. Having a traditional upbringing, with a rigorous academic training and a corporate professional career in a multinational, I always respected the classic parameters, without questioning. It was the marked path, and I was who and how I was supposed to be.

At one point in my journey, going through changes and forging new patterns of thinking, I began to ask myself questions such as: what exactly makes us who we are? How much of the other is there in me? How do I build myself?

My practice, strongly self-referential (I work with my brain waves, my genome, my brain MRIs, etc.), delves into the concept of identity, reflecting on the ultimate idea of the collective and anonymous subject. I raise the question of the self-construction of the SELF, in these times of revolutionary technological advances and genetic engineering, the principle of eternal change and constant fluidity together with the never more current concept of media hyperreality, intertwined with a surrealist look.

A very strong drive appears in my research, a need to know, to reach the truth. Is it possible to reach any truth? This question has led me to become obsessed with science, on the one hand, and with philosophy. Which, added to my interest in new technologies, forms the basis of all my research. Each topic I address requires in-depth study, completely immersing myself, training and consulting the best experts.

My works combine neuroscientific research, brain waves, genomic maps, binary code, algorithms, sound engineering, interactive systems, virtuality and hyperreality. The media I use to express my ideas include sculpture, drawing, video, performance, installation and even Artificial Intelligence and blockchain.

At the confluence of disciplines, materials and media, I seek to build my own language, giving rise to abstract reflections and dialogues between artist and viewer, while innovating in the forms of representation and experimentation of works of art.

GlogauAIR Project

In this art residency, my objective is to work in the research and development phase for a new series I am working on, in which I delve into the complex and ever-evolving world of feminine identity, focusing on the interplay between the unique wiring of the female brain, societal mandates, and the transformative impact of technology. By employing a self referential approach, I aim to create a series of works that not only reflect my personal experiences but also resonate with the collective consciousness of women in the modern era.

Central to this exploration is the concept of identity and what truly defines the essence of an individual. In an age where technological advancements and shifting social paradigms are reshaping our understanding of the self, it is crucial to examine how these forces influence the construction of the feminine psyche. Through my work, I intend to question the traditional roles and expectations imposed upon women, while simultaneously highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities that arise in the face of rapid technological change.

To embody these ideas, I will utilize my own worn clothes as the primary medium, infusing each piece with a deeply personal and intimate narrative. These garments, imbued with the traces of my lived experiences, will serve as a metaphor for the layers of societal conditioning and individual identity that shape the female experience. By deconstructing, manipulating, and reassembling these materials, I seek to create a visual language that speaks to the complexity and fluidity of the feminine psyche.

Furthermore, I am exploring to incorporate the writings of my grandmother, adding an intergenerational dimension to the work. By juxtaposing her words with my own experiences and the contemporary context, I aim to explore the continuity and evolution of feminine identity across time. This dialogue between past and present will illuminate the ways in which the role of women has transformed, while also revealing the enduring challenges and aspirations that unite women across generations.

As I embark on this artistic journey, I will also delve into the realm of science fiction, using it as a lens to examine the intersection of women and technology. By crafting the backbone of a novel that envisions a future shaped by artificial intelligence and feminist ideals, I seek to explore the potential implications of these developments on the feminine psyche. This speculative narrative will serve as a catalyst for deeper philosophical and scientific inquiry, inviting viewers to consider the ways in which technology might reshape our understanding of gender, identity, and the human experience.

Alongside these contemporary explorations, I will also draw inspiration from the rich legacy of women artists who have confronted the issues of gender, identity, and feminism throughout history.

Throughout the residency, I will conduct extensive research, engaging with identity and feminist theory, neuroscience, and emerging technologies. I aim to enrich my artistic practice and create works that are both conceptually rigorous and visually compelling. Ultimately, this project represents a deeply personal and transformative journey, as I strive to unravel the patterns that have shaped my own identity and those of countless women before me.

CV Summary

Postconceptual artist

• Isabel Englebert studied Economics, and graduated in Communication Sciences at Universidad del Salvador (2002).
• She was trained in design at Central Saint Martins, London, and jewelry at L’Ecole Van Cleef & Arpels, Paris.
• She participated in numerous courses in different fields, such as Medical Neurosciences at Duke University (2020).
• She has taken several history and contemporary art courses.
• In 2023, Englebert completed a postgraduate course in Contemporary Art Technologies at the Facultad de Filosofía y Letras of the Universidad de Buenos Aires.
• Since 2012, she has been working on interdisciplinary projects in the crossroads of art, science, technology and philosophy, within the framework of her studio Isabel Englebert Studio.
• In the last year, Isabel Englebert has been conducting joint research with MIT, in cooperation with the EvLab Language Lab, conducting tests related to language and neuroscience, developing a series called “Brain Conversations” to be exhibited at MIT Museum.
• Her work “It took me 4 months, 9 days and 23 hours to cover 2 kilometers with a pen” was selected in the 18th Edition of the Arte Laguna Prize, to be exhibited at the Arsenale Nord in Venice from November 16 to December 8, 2024.
• In December 2023, her series “Amateur Gods” was selected to be presented as a “Special Project” in Pinta Miami, during Art Basel Week. The limited edition multiple of this series was specially developed and exhibited in The Bass Museum in Miami.
• In 2023, her series “J. Doe, an abstract identity” was selected finalist for Bienal Sur 2023 and in the same year she was invited to present this series in the “Biohack the planet” Conference in Austin, Texas.
• At Miami Art Week 2022, the artist led a project together with Pinta Miami and Ella Fontanals Cisneros that brought the first traditional art fair and the first major collector to the Metaverse.
• She also participated as an artist and moderated a panel entitled “Traditional art and the new virtual environment”, alongside speakers such as the director of Pinta Miami, the leadership of CIFO and the director of Decentraland.
• In 2021, sponsored by the European Cultural Center, MCAD and FIU, Englebert participated in Miami Art Week, exhibiting a large format sculpture and an NFT in the IlluMia Festival, which was screened in Downtown Miami’s public space.
• She has been named Decentraland’s Museum District Ambassador (2021), an entitlement that has enabled her to work with virtuality and NFTs in depth.
• Her NFT “Wannabe Porvenir” is currently exhibited at the Museum District, constituting part of the Museum’s collection.
• Her work has been selected as a finalist for the Visual Arts Itaú Prize (2021).
• She exhibited at Diderot Art Gallery, Buenos Aires (2020), and at Praxis Gallery, Buenos Aires (2019).
• Her sculptural series have been exhibited at the Design & Art Center at the Patagonia Foundation, Buenos Aires (2019), where her piece “Mies” is part of the Foundation’s permanent exhibition, and at Casa FOA, Buenos Aires (2018).
• Her work has been portrayed in numerous magazines, as well as her research and thoughts, which have been published in the art magazine “Arte al Día”.
• She has been selected by Forbes as one of the “35 under 35”.

Gallery