Rare Earths Exhibition design

“Rare Earths · Tierras Raras”, presented at GlogauAIR in collaboration with Chema Alvargonzalez’s Artistic Memory and the Spanish Embassy in Germany, investigates the intricate relationship between technology, ecology, and culture through the lens of rare earth elements.

In today’s era of globalization and accelerating innovation, the demand for these materials—essential to smartphones, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing—has surged to unprecedented heights. Yet, the extraction and refinement of rare earths reveal a shadowed narrative of environmental degradation, labor exploitation, and geopolitical dependency, exposing the true cost of technological progress.

Curated by Justin Ross, the exhibition unites the perspectives of four contemporary artists: Rosell Meseguer, Arturo Comas, Andreas Greiner, and Fadi Al-Hamwi. Each interprets the notion of “rare earths” through a distinct artistic vocabulary—ranging from poetic abstraction to material experimentation—unveiling the interconnectedness between nature, industry, and human agency.

Together, their works invite reflection on the invisible infrastructures shaping our modern world, prompting viewers to confront how material extraction transforms not only landscapes but also the socio-political fabric that binds them.

The visual identity and exhibition materials were designed by Otávio Santiago, whose graphic direction frames the show’s conceptual clarity through minimal composition and geological tonality, reinforcing the dialogue between the raw and the refined.

Written by Otávio Santiago, designer and creative researcher exploring the intersections of design, art, and material culture.