CAJA NEGRA relato de un siniestro

On Sunday, August 23, 2009 three masked men entered a granulation and tire recycling factory named REMA (Rubber Recycling and Manufacturing, Inc.) in Caguas, Puerto Rico. The only person on the ground, a security guard named Ismael Aponte was tied up, doused with gasoline and lit on fire. Someone close to the ground heard the man screaming in agony and went to his aid and pulled him out of the fire, severely burned.

On September 24, a month after the incident Ismael "Maelo" as he was known, died.

The magnitude of the arson attack was devastating, causing a total loss of the facility, valued at $ 8.5 million (unfortunately, the insurance had expired). This in turn, led to unemployment of many people who, with difficulty will get new job opportunities due to he economic crisis being experienced in Puerto Rico.

The reasons why I am bonded to this event are many: since 2003, I researched and produced works of art with the products REMA produced (dust and crumb rubber). During my annual stay in Puerto Rico, the factory operated as my workshop when required it. I knew very well all the employees and throughout these years, we shared many moments together during the development of various works of art, including a monumental public work that is in Caguas.

In my helplessness in the face this act and from standpoint of art, I tried to make some kind of restitution on the immeasurable and grotesqueness of this incident: the key work of th exhibition operates as a black box, summarizing the fire in various accounts that are consumed by the flames.

The video is an account of my relationship with REMA.

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