Aramis Navarro (1991) is an artist based between St. Gallen and Zurich. Through the analysis of broader linguistic models, he observes the evolution of belief systems in contemporary society. His work has been exhibited in institutions such as the Kunstmuseum St. Gallen, Kunst(Zeug)Haus, Kunsthaus Zofingen, Kutlesa Gallery, Paul Hafner Galerie, and Künstler und Projekthaus Torstrasse in Berlin, and more recently with a solo exhibition at ALTEFABRIK in Rapperswil. In Palermo, he will create a series of audio installations based on the relationship between occult spells and messages used in artificial intelligence technology.
What is the main project you will be working on during your residency?
So far, the main focus has been reading—lots of reading! I’m jumping from book to book, finishing one chapter and diving into another one from a different book. The books cover the two fields I’m currently exploring: spells and prompts. Some delve into magic, both in theory and practice, while others focus on AI, specifically large language models and computational language. Between these reading sessions, I take notes or make sketches.
Studyroom at Palazzo Butera
How does the environment of Istituto Svizzero influence your research?
The freedom and mental space provided here are incredibly conducive to generating fresh ideas.
What is the strangest object you keep in your workspace?
I’d say it’s a typewriter I bought at a flea market right after I arrived. Besides the books, it’s actually the only thing in my workspace. I use it to archive my notes in analog form.
Typewriter drawing
How do you believe the transdisciplinary approach enriches your research?
Juxtaposing or merging these two fields creates fertile ground for new ideas, allowing me to plant concepts and observe them as they grow.
What influences your work?
In some way or another, everything influences my work.
Aramis visiting the remains of the Abbey of Thelema (Aleister Crowley). photo: Jan Lindauer
Do you have any rituals or routines during work?
Maybe the “jumps” I mentioned before…
What music are you currently listening to?
In this very moment I’m listening to Peace of Mind by Claro Intelecto
Do you have a favorite spot in the city?
From my window, I can see a wild garden surrounded by corrugated iron, seemingly reserved for a future architectural project. For now, it’s a hidden gem for cats, and we often hear them fighting day and night. The place is big enough to host quite a few—it’s almost metaphorical, paradise and battleground at the same time.
Cats Paradise & Battleground
What’s the most unexpected thing that has happened to you during your residency?
I truly didn’t expect to be “blessed” by a pigeon.
Analog Photography, Pigeon at Segreti del Chiostro courtyard
The future for you is…?
The future is techgnostic.