inflated american tourister suitcases by juan ortiz apuy

‘realia series: american tourister’ by juan ortiz-apuy, 2012 responsive installation. motion sensors, batteries, plastic, wood, electric motors, gears, and other electro-mechanical components all images courtesy the artist

juan ortiz-apuy: american tourister whipper snapper gallery, toronto, ontario, canada on show now until march 17th, 2012

montreal-based and costa rica-born artist juan ortiz-apuy has created the responsive installation ‘realia series: american tourister’ on display at whipper snapper gallery. in the series, ortiz-apuy has reconfigured a set of three american tourister suitcases, enabling the inanimate objects to inflate and deflate as provoked by the movements of passersby. the motion sensors affixed to each of the suitcases indicates for the motors and gears inside the valises to begin their breath-cycle, inhaling and exhaling until external movement stops.

ortiz-apuy explores the idea of mobility or potential for human dispersion in the highly globalized modern world. the artist seeks to emphasize the seeming free-flow of capital and global markets deconstructing the set concept of a national identity. his use of an american tourister suitcase, firstly, speaks to the post world war II north american understanding of tourism and the effect of their fixed national identity in transporting their culture distant travel destinations. an alternate perspective infused into the sculpture is the awareness of the immigrant experience, traveling not as a luxury but as a necessity, letting go of aspects of their culture of origin for those of their destination.

‘realia series: american tourister’ by juan ortiz-apuy

detailed view of a motion sensor

view of the three suitcases from above

tag of an american tourister suitcase

exterior perspective of the show