Cromo Diez [Chrome Ten]

The Havana-based collective Los Carpinteros is known for transforming everyday objects in order to give them new meanings. Cromo Diez consists of an overturned kerosene lamp and its spilled contents, a highly polished liquid. Referring to the frequent power outages of Cuba, this subject and format – a horizontal sculpture and spill – recurs in Los Carpinteros’ corpus. Recalling the environmentally disastrous oil spills, these works inadvertently introduce the subject of fossil fuels. Overconsumption of these organic materials, including petroleum, coal and natural gas, which are used to generate power, is depleting non-renewable natural resources and contributing to pollution worldwide.