Me White Gold

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This piece was born from a critical reflection on my own school experience, inspired by the concept of “real-time systems” present in the work of German artist Hans Haacke. While questioning the usefulness of what I learned in school, I discovered that the institution I attended was affiliated with Opus Dei —a religious sect with a controversial reputation for secrecy, abuse, and far-right ideology.

This realization prompted a deep examination of the beliefs I had unconsciously absorbed —values that did not necessarily allow for healthy or inclusive social relationships. It became clear to me that education is not neutral, and that unlearning is as vital as learning.

The installation consists of two traditional green schoolboards, common in 1990s Colombian classrooms. I created two oversized chalk pieces —awkward and disproportionate— to symbolize outdated, rigid educational tools. On one of the boards, a mechanical arm connected to a custom-built circuit continuously erases whatever is written. The word “Opus Dei” was written there, and as the arm attempts to erase it, a faint trace always remains. This residue speaks to the enduring effect of unconscious learning: no matter how much we try to erase it, something always stays behind.

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Photographer: David Torres

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