SPECULATIVE FUTURES: ROBOTIC MEDITATION

Presented by:ESPRONCEDA – Institute of Art & Culture

Venue: Carrer d’Espronceda 326, Nau 5, 08027 Barcelona

Opening: Thursday, 3 September 2026 · 19:00–21:30

An immersive robotic installation by Joaquín Fargas exploring technology, nature and possible futures. 

Presented as part of Constellation Lab 2026, with a special music intervention by Yiflauki exploring sound, breath and acoustic meditation.

ESPRONCEDA – Institute of Art & Culture is pleased to present Speculative Futures: Robotic Meditation, an immersive robotic installation by Argentine artist-engineer Joaquín Fargas. Presented as part of Constellation Lab 2026, the project brings together art, science and technology to explore possible futures and question the evolving relationship between humanity, nature and machines. At the centre of Speculative Futures is a constellation of twelve solar-powered robots that perform a slow choreography, gently moving their heads towards the sun. This seemingly simple gesture becomes both technological and symbolic: the machines turn towards the source of energy that sustains them in an almost ritualistic act of contemplation. 

Behind this robotic choreography lies a speculative narrative. In an imagined future, these robots are sent to different corners of the universe carrying frozen human embryos, entrusted with the possibility of creating new civilisations and ensuring the continuity of human life. 

Through this scenario, Fargas invites audiences to consider some of the fundamental questions shaping our present: What relationship are we building with technology? Can machines become agents in the preservation of life? And what kind of future are we imagining for humanity?

A meditation between humans, machines and nature

As part of the installation, Robotic Meditation transforms the work into a collective experience of contemplation.The slow, synchronised movements of the robots create an atmosphere that contrasts with the speed and constant acceleration usually 

associated with technological development. Rather than presenting machines as purely functional objects, Fargas invites us to encounter them differently—as presences with which we can share space, time and attention.

The project brings together technology and nature while looking towards possible futures, using robotic movement and sound to create an emotional and contemplative encounter between humans and machines.

Through this poetic gesture, Speculative Futures: Robotic Meditation opens a space to reflect on technological dependence, environmental responsibility, artificial intelligence and the increasingly blurred boundaries between natural and artificial systems.

Opening night: robotic meditation & music intervention

The exhibition will open at ESPRONCEDA on Thursday, 3 September, from 19:00 to 21:30, with a special activation of Robotic Meditation accompanied by a music intervention by Yiflauki.

Working with wind instruments, experimental sound and instruments created from recycled materials, Yiflauki will expand the installation into a shared sonic experience. The intervention creates a dialogue between robotic movement, acoustic vibration and collective listening, reinforcing the meditative dimension of Fargas’s work and transforming the exhibition space into an environment for contemplation, experimentation and sensory connection.

About Joaquín Fargas

Joaquín Fargas is an Argentine artist-engineer working at the intersection of art, science and technology. His practice explores robotics, biotechnology, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies through speculative projects addressing life, its preservation, and the relationship between living beings and possible futures. His work has been presented internationally in museums, galleries and biennials. Fargas is currently Director of the Center for Exploratory Art, Science and Technology in San Isidro and the Latin American Bioart Laboratory at UAI.

About Yiflauki

Yiflauki is a Barcelona-based musical and creative practice specialising in the construction, restoration and exploration of wind instruments, with a particular focus on instruments made from recycled materials. Combining craftsmanship, ecological experimentation and sound, Yiflauki explores musical meditation, acoustic vibration and alternative forms of listening, creating experiences that connect sound, breath and collective perception.

About Constellation Lab

Constellation Lab is a collaborative infrastructure connecting professionals, researchers, cultural institutions and technology organisations across Catalonia. Through experimentation, prototyping and cross-sector collaboration, it facilitates access to emerging technologies including XR, artificial intelligence and robotics.

Within this framework, Speculative Futures: Robotic Meditation explores how robotics and technological innovation can become tools for artistic experimentation, critical reflection and public engagement. The project is developed in collaboration with community partner ReMade, using advanced digital fabrication techniques and tools to support the production of the exhibition’s robotic components.

Press Contact

Maria Rubies
maria.rubies@espronceda.net
+34 607 639 552

www.espronceda.net