NOTE: This exhibition has been extended through Feb. 27 The new Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego presenting “Unity in Variety” , the first ever solo exhibition in California of Mexican artist Gabriel Rico, opening on September 24. Rico’s sculptures will transform the new I-C-A San Diego’s Balboa Park galleries using natural objects sourced locally in San Diego, neon, taxidermy, and augmented reality. Free through ICA San Diego’s Pay As You Wish initiative. RELATED: The New Institute Of Contemporary Art San Diego Wants To Question Everything (KPBS feature) Excerpt: Gabriel Rico's work is conceptual while also being hyper focused on objects — the philosophical and relational nature of objects and materials, and how in object-oriented ontology the material world is defined by objects. "You can define a period of time just with one object. For example, a Coca-Cola bottle. If you see a Coca-Cola bottle you can define a precise space-time situation, just because before a certain point in time it’s known that the humans cannot have the capacity to manipulate or create glass. Another example is a CD or USB port," Rico said. With those precise points in space and time, he added, you can construct a history. "Or, in my case I construct pieces of art." Contemporary art, Rico said, is just a concept, meaning art that is being made in a specific time. "This doesn't mean you can't mix ancient techniques with new technologies, that's an important part of contemporary art." --Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS
