Matar al Gato 2: Ekpyrotica is a series of multimedia performances by Panz4 Troupé, the collaborative art space between Sol Rezza (argentinean sound artist, sound designer and Sound Jockey) and Daniel Iván (mexican video artist, multimedia artist and photographer). It is their second collaborative artwork in this line of work.

Matar al Gato is a happenning. Each year, the artistes agree a subject and start the manufacture of several pieces on each of their specialities; afterwards, they experiment to explore the diverse possibilities to assemble the pieces to achieve the final performances. These can be virtual or physical; unique or a series. To know more about Matar al Gato, you should visit its website.

Ekpyrotica is the result of over a year of research and discussion on several topics such as the stoic phylosophy, the quantum physics, the theory of relativity, several universe models from physics and hundreds of hours of coffee and laugthers.

Work is based on the “loop” concept, basis of the “Epyrotic Universe”.

“Ekpyrosis” was Stoics’ believe in a “Great year” based periodic universe destruction through a great conflagration. Cosmos is then recreated (in a process called palingenesis) only to be destroyed again at the end of the new cycle.

“Ekpyrotic Universe” is a cosmological model –whose name follows the “ekpyrosis” idea– which proposes an alternative idea to the “since the beginning of the universe cosmic inflation” concept, usually followed by the Big Bang Theory thinkers. The substantial difference is that the Ekpyrotic Model assumes the origin of the universe through the collision of two individualities (branes), while “Inflationary Model” assumes the expansion of a single individuality. In Inflationary Model’s case, universe is in constant expansion. On Ekpyrotic Model, universe is in a constant loop of expansions and contractions.

On Inflationary Model, everything goes away from everything and there is no center. On Ekpyrotic Model , this remoteness tends to contraction. It crunches to expand again. Our question is: Is this ekpyrotic pattern applicable as a prospective of analysis to other life patterns? Is there an expansion-crunch loop on social nature or technological/mechanic interactions? On this era of almost immediate remote interactions through technology: is isolation an actual scenario for connection and union? Is being connected an actual scenario for isolation? We are exploring “Isolation” and “Connection/Union” as the ends of everyday actions, as common and as repeated nowadays as spending 8 hours facing a computer, putting earphones or being connected through wireless, bluetooth or any other device. Conceptually, there is no voluntary isolation act which is not susceptible of becoming a new connection/union scenario, and vice versa.