NEVEREVEN
Adrian Aguilera

Experimental Gallery, Olive Tjaden Hall
College of Architecture, Art and Planning, Cornell, Ithaca, NY
April 14–19, 2025

Autoethnography, transculturation, critique, collaboration, bilingualism, mediation, parody, denunciation, imaginary dialogue, vernacular expression– these are some of the literate arts of the contact zone. Miscomprehension, incomprehension, dead letters, unread masterpieces, absolute heterogeneity of meaning--these are some of the perils of writing in the contact zone.
— Mary Louise Pratt, Arts of the Contact Zone

Interpretation is not an isolated act, but takes place within a Homeric battlefield, on which a host of interpretive opinions and either openly or implicitly in conflict
— Fredric Jameson, The Political Unconscious

NEVEREVEN unfolds as an immersive exploration of the dynamic and often volatile terrain of contact zones—those in-between spaces where cultures, identities, and histories collide, intermingle, and inevitably transform one another. This idea manifests as a orchestrated three-channel video, image, text, timestamp, color (RGB), and sound installation, enveloping viewers in a multi-sensory environment. Through the interplay of fleeting movements, resonant textures, and evocative visual languages, NEVEREVEN seeks to articulate the intricate complexities inherent in moments of connection and the inevitable tensions of discord arising from cultural confluence.

Extending beyond the projected screens, the installation actively solicits audience participation in a choreography of perception. It invites you into a physical and conceptual navigation of fluid perspectives and unfixed territories where established meanings dissolve and are perpetually contested and redefined. The installation invites audiences to navigate shifting perspectives and in-betweenness spaces where meaning is continually negotiated

untitled (NEVEREVEN), 2025
CNC-ed wood, and red, green and blue LED lights
7 in x 47 in

untitled (mutations to the contact zone), 2025
three-channel video installation, image, audio, text, timestamp, and color
dimensions variable

untitled (oh me oh my), 2025
neoprene fabric, vinyl heat puff and UV LED light
8 ft x 3 ft