Blocked gallery...

7:45 p.m.

14/03/19 - A zinc coated iron wall occupies the entire space of the White Cube Gallery, in Mason’s Yard, London. The artwork, which belongs to Miroslaw Blaka (Poland, 1958), blocks the entrance, as if it were a barrier or huge container. But, unlike other exhibitions, there are no restrictions as to getting near or even touching the steel wall. However, during several minutes, no one dares to come close to the artwork: we evaluate the space and wait for it to "do something". Finally we touch the wall and notice that it is hot, not too much, just enough to create a pleasant sensation in a cold London morning.

Random Access Memory, by Miroslaw Balka (2019)

Material: trapezoidal zinc coated steel and heating elements

White Cube, Mason’s Yard, London

Soon its many of us touching the wall and we linger there. Some might say we look like worshippers, but it's really the strange yet pleasant feeling of touching the hot metal that makes us all stay. The temperature (45 degrees Celsius) was not chosen randomly. The artist requested it specially because it is at that temperature that blood begins to coagulate or enzymes begin to denature.

Random Access Memory, by Miroslaw Balka (2019)

Material: trapezoidal zinc coated steel and heating elements

White Cube, Mason’s Yard, London

So, in this Gallery in downtown London, so out of place because of its minimal architecture, the temporary walls of Miroslaw Balka refer not only to the barriers imposed to immigrants but also to Global Warming.