Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, “Pulse Corniche,” 2015

Despite the monumental size of the installation and its wide visibility, the project was not intended as a cathartic pre-programmed spectacle like a fireworks display or a son-et-lumière show. On the contrary, the piece was designed to attract constant, personal participation to create an immersive, intimate experience of glimmering light inside the plaza itself.
"Pulse Corniche" was inspired by Roberto Gavaldón's film "Macario" (Mexico, 1960) in which the protagonist has a hunger-induced hallucination wherein all individuals are represented by flickering candles in a cave. Pulse Corniche is part of a series of biometric artworks that Lozano-Hemmer debuted in 2006 with his installation "Pulse Room".