Hello ChatGPT, I have a question, could you tell me about the exhibition “Forever Yours, AI” in Mexico City by artist Noemi Iglesias Barrios?

Noemi Iglesias Barrios’ exhibition “Forever Yours, AI”, presented for the first time in Mexico, promises to be a powerful dialogue about love, intimacy, and their representation in an increasingly hyperconnected world. Her ability to transform porcelain, bronze, and glass into tangible reflections on the commodification of emotions and romantic ideals gives her work a critical and contemporary approach. This exhibition is sure to resonate with audiences looking to question traditional concepts of love in the digital era. Her capacity to evoke sensitivity and reflection through fragile, symbolically rich materials is admirable.

Noemi Iglesias Barrios, who recently presented her solo exhibition “Love Me Fast” at the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid and is currently showcasing “Landscapes of Affection” at the Museo de Bellas Artes de Asturias, is recognized for her work in porcelain, a medium she has worked with for over a decade.

“Forever Yours, AI” features a series of floral sculptures that reclaim the role of women in the ceramic industry. Floral production, a traditionally industrial technique, was carried out almost exclusively by women during the 19th and 20th centuries in European factories. This work, produced within a hierarchically patriarchal environment, reflected labor segregation and wage inequality, which perpetuated women’s economic dependence on their male counterparts. 

The flowers created by Iglesias Barrios recover this feminine legacy to provide a new, aesthetic, and contemporary discourse. In addition to reclaiming the historical context, the artist uses the extensive symbolism of flowers to generate critical narratives. As Iglesias Barrios explains it: “In my work, I reproduce this floral technique to address the current commodification of infatuation, examining how emotional patterns are socially assumed as icons of consumption in the production of a romantic utopia, where sentimental experiences are transformed into consumerist strategies.”

This discourse is captured in works such as “Everlasting”, a series of wedding cars embellished with an overwhelming saturation of floral decorations; “Heart & Chips”, a performance in which the artist eats a raw heart accompanied by chips; and “Love Profusion”, a mural of porcelain flowers made entirely by hand, with a gradient of white and pink hues that highlights her meticulous craftsmanship.

Among her most recent works is the series “Dat – Astral Chart”, a visual oracle that employs the aesthetics of tarot cards, with symbolism based on the gestural movements we make when interacting with electronic devices. Signs such as the “Liker”, the “Scroller”, and the “Swiper” appear in this series. This work is complemented by “Landscapes of Affection”, a collection of porcelain mobile phones with printed symbols that document the artist’s daily movements on her phone over two months. The blue color of these pieces was achieved using recycled cobalt from obsolete electronic device batteries.

Noemi Iglesias Barrios’ work offers a critical and deeply reflective perspective on love and emotions in contemporary life. Through her historical, feminist, and ironic approach, the artist tackles issues such as the commodification of affection, gender inequality, and the relationship between technology and feelings, creating a proposal that is both aesthetically pleasing and provocative.