The 14th Shanghai Biennale “Cosmos Cinema” opened Nov. 8 highlighting works that reflect on diverse cosmologies and microcosmic realities and the different ways in which humanity interacts with and understands the cosmos. Professor Beatriz Cortez’s sculpture “El Caracol,” a spiraling structure inspired by the Mayan observatory at Chichen Itza, is featured in this year’s show. “El Caracol” engages with the ancient Maya practice of observing the cosmos as a way of understanding time beyond the limits of a single human life. 

“Cosmos Cinema” is curated by Anton Vidokle, Zairong Xiang, Hallie Ayres, Lukas Brasiskis, and Ben Eastham. It is on view at The Power Station of Art in Shanghai, China from Nov. 9, 2023 to March 31, 2024.