shadow circuits

Shadow circuits focus on so-called "shadow geologies": the often invisible processes of resource extraction, transport, processing, and consumption. The exhibition demonstrates that these processes are not neutral. They are historically linked to colonial power structures and often still place labor and environmental risks on Indigenous communities and former colonies.

The participating artists approach their practice as field research. They work on location, for example, in port areas, industrial landscapes, or hydraulic engineering infrastructures, collecting materials, images, and stories. Their work connects places in Portugal, Mexico, Italy, and Iceland that are interconnected through global trade flows.

Instead of large-scale industrial images, Shadow Circuits shows how these systems directly impact our daily lives. The exhibition invites visitors to consider their own role within these global chains. Where does the energy we use every day come from? Who bears the costs of our consumption? And how can we relate more consciously to the materials and networks that underpin our lives?