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Heliographies of Memory” is a collaborative project that brings together the creative minds of Mexican street artist Said Dokins and photographer Leonardo Luna. The project explores the social and historical relationships that define specific places by reinterpreting them as displaced memories in contemporary imaginations.
The project’s main technique combines long-exposure photography with coordinated light movements. This creates luminous actions that trace invisible paths, evoking intermittent crowd movements and symbolic changes in the use of urban spaces.
Said Dokins in action for the “Heliographies of Memory” series. Paris 2023. Photo by Leonardo Luna.
Dokins’s interest in capturing moving light was sparked in 2004 when he accidentally captured the movement of a falling lamp. Since then, he has experimented with various mediums, including animation and virtual reality. The project began in Mexico in 2004 and expanded to Europe, intervening in historical sites during the 2016 “The Hidden Text” tour.
Said Dokins in action for the “Heliographies of Memory” series. Paris 2023. Photo by Leonardo Luna.
For the new “Heliographies of Memory” interventions, Said Dokins and Leonardo Luna chose locations in Paris known for their historical and cultural importance. These sites were selected for their significance in the city’s urban fabric and relevance to current European political and social events. The works explore themes like France’s relationship with Russia, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Gods and Dead III. Said Dokins & Leonardo Luna. Heliographies of Memory Series. Paris 2023
The Alexander III Bridge, a symbol of Franco-Russian relations, was built as a gesture of friendship. Today, it reminds us of a time of cooperation and diplomacy, contrasting with the current tension and conflict. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has notably influenced France, both in foreign relations and domestically. The project’s title, “Gods and Dead,” references how events, especially conflicts, leave indelible marks on human consciousness and history, shaping our perception of the divine and mortal, the powerful and the lost.
“Gods and Dead.” Said Dokins & Leonardo Luna. Heliographies of Memory. Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France. 2023.
The interventions in Paris reflect current European political and social events, emphasising the importance of understanding the relationship between history, memory, and contemporary issues. The project’s interventions took place in key locations such as the Alexander III Bridge, Trocadero Square, Sacré-Cœur, and the Pantheon, chosen deliberately for their significance in the city’s urban fabric and relevance to current European political and social events.
Gods and Dead II. Said Dokins & Leonardo Luna. Heliographies of Memory Series. Trocadero, Paris 2023
Said Dokins’ latest project, in collaboration with photographer Leonardo Luna, brings us new pieces from their series “Heliographies of Memory,” created at iconic locations in Paris during their participation in the “Loading: Urban Art in the Digital Age” exhibition at the Grand Palais Immersif. This exhibition will be open until July 21 2024, allowing visitors to experience the essence of urban memory through a unique fusion of calligraphy and photography.
In addition to the “Heliographies of Memory” series, Said Dokins, along with Roberto Palma, presents ‘Interferences,’ a work created with purpose-made 3D digital animation for the exhibition. This work adds a new dimension to the exhibition, showcasing the fusion of urban art with cutting-edge technology.
Image copyright Leonardo Luna
