Curatorial Notes

The Interconnectedness of Analog and Digital, Routine and Innovation

Alejandro Cartagena's Carpoolers is a powerful visual narrative that captures the lives of laborers commuting to work in the backs of pickup trucks in Monterrey, Mexico. With an aerial perspective that emphasizes order amidst the chaos of urban labor, the series offers a poignant reflection on routine, socio-economic disparity, and environmental efficiency. Beyond its immediate themes, Carpoolers resonate deeply with the modern age of art, drawing unexpected parallels to generative, AI-based, and blockchain art practices

At its core, Carpoolers explores repetition—a concept fundamental to both human and machine processes. Each day, the same trucks traverse familiar routes, carrying workers who follow a routine dictated by their labor. This structured repetition mirrors the foundation of generative art, where algorithms repeatedly execute commands to produce variations within a defined framework. In both cases, the outcome is a product of controlled systems: the workers' arrangements in truck beds are as meticulously composed as a generative art piece, where each iteration reveals new nuances within a structured pattern.

Cartagena's images evoke the precision of computational processes. Just as a generative algorithm relies on rules and inputs to produce a visual outcome, the patterns and dynamics of the laborers' routines result in compositions that are simultaneously unique and systematic. This analogy highlights the universality of repetition, whether in the analog world of photography or the digital realm of computational art.

Carpoolers also addresses themes of economic disparity, depicting workers traveling from suburban areas to the city to perform labor-intensive jobs. These images reflect a broader commentary on wealth distribution, a topic that finds a modern parallel in blockchain technology. Blockchain's decentralized, transparent nature offers a potential for redistributing power and wealth, allowing for fairer systems where every participant's contribution is visible and valued

Similarly, Cartagena's work amplifies the visibility of these often-overlooked laborers. His art becomes a ledger of human experience, documenting the workers' roles within the economic fabric of Monterrey. In the same way that blockchain records every transaction immutably, Cartagena's photographs preserve the laborers' stories, ensuring they remain part of the collective narrative.

An underlying theme in Carpoolers is environmental consciousness. By highlighting the efficiency of shared commutes, Cartagena subtly advocates for collective action in addressing environmental concerns. The crowded truck beds reflect a practical response to high fuel costs and the environmental impact of individual car use. The series aligns with broader global conversations about sustainability, illustrating how resourcefulness and community can mitigate environmental degradation.

Cartagena's role as an artist extends beyond documentation; he provokes dialogue about how we inhabit and share our spaces. His images are both a critique and a celebration of the adaptive ingenuity that defines human life.

Alejandro Cartagena's influence extends far beyond Carpoolers. As a thought-leader in the evolving fields of computer and blockchain-based art, Cartagena inspires artists, collectors, and institutions to rethink the boundaries of creativity. His role as a mentor and curator fosters innovation, encouraging others to embrace new technologies while grounding their work in meaningful social commentary.

Though his leadership at platforms like Fellowship is significant, Cartagena's impact is felt most in his ability to bridge worlds. He brings the meticulous, human-centered practice of photography into dialogue with the algorithmic precision of generative and AI-based art. His work challenges traditional notions of authorship, authenticity, and value, opening new pathways for artists exploring the intersection of analog and digital.

Carpoolers is more than a photographic series; it is a multifaceted exploration of routine, economy, and environmental efficiency. Alejandro Cartagena's ability to capture these themes with nuance and depth is a testament to his skill as both an artist and a storyteller. Whether viewed as a collection of striking images or as a socio-political critique, Carpoolers continues to resonate, offering insights into the lives of those who often go unseen and unacknowledged. Through this work and his broader curatorial efforts, Cartagena invites us to consider the systems that shape our world and the role of art in illuminating them.

About Alejandro

Alejandro Cartagena, born in 1977 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is a Mexican photographer based in Monterrey, Mexico. His work employs landscape and portraiture to examine social, urban, and environmental issues, particularly focusing on the effects of suburban sprawl and the dynamics of labor in Latin America. Cartagena's acclaimed series, "Carpoolers," captures construction workers commuting in the backs of pickup trucks, offering a unique perspective on daily life and economic disparity.

His photographs have been exhibited internationally, including at the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain in Paris and the CCCB in Barcelona. Cartagena's work is part of several prestigious collections, such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.

In addition to his photographic practice, Cartagena is a self-publisher and co-editor, having produced several award-winning photobooks, including "Suburbia Mexicana" (2010) and "Carpoolers" (2014). He has received numerous accolades, such as the Photolucida Critical Mass Book Award and the Lente Latino Award in Chile. Cartagena has also been recognized as a FOAM magazine Talent and an Emerging Photographer by PDN magazine.

Beyond his artistic endeavors, Cartagena serves as the lead curator at Fellowship, a platform dedicated to AI-based artwork, where he advocates for the integration of artificial intelligence in contemporary art practices. His leadership in this field has positioned him as a thought leader, inspiring artists and collectors to explore the intersection of art and technology.

Cartagena's work has been featured in international publications such as Newsweek, The New York Times, and The New Yorker, highlighting his significant contributions to contemporary photography and his ongoing exploration of socio-economic and environmental themes.