Informal labor, consumption, and the circulation of waste
flowchart LR
A((World Representation)) --> T([The Tangible])
A --> I((The Intangible))
I --> C((Images of Capitalism))
I --> P([Images of the Popular])
I --> AN([Images of the Ancestors])
C --> C1([1. El Colgado])
C --> C2([2. Mr. Burns in Chile])
C --> C3((3. El Empaquetador))
C --> C4([4. Rostro Esperanza])
C --> C5([5. Tragedian])
click A "/EN/world-representation.html" "Go to World Representation"
click T "/EN/tangible.html" "Go to The Tangible"
click I "/EN/intangible.html" "Go to The Intangible"
click C "/EN/images-of-capitalism.html" "Go to Images of Capitalism"
click P "/EN/images-of-the-popular.html" "Go to Images of the Popular"
click AN "/EN/images-of-the-ancestors.html" "Go to Images of the Ancestors"
click C1 "/EN/the-hanged-man.html" "Go to El Colgado"
click C2 "/EN/mr-burns-in-chile.html" "Go to Mr. Burns in Chile"
click C3 "/EN/the-bagger.html" "You are here"
click C4 "/EN/face-of-hope.html" "Go to Rostro Esperanza"
click C5 "/EN/tragedian.html" "Go to Tragedian"
In El Empaquetador, the artist joins the work of a supermarket bagger for
approximately two hours. A sticker is attached to every plastic bag handed out, making visible
and countable an action that normally disappears inside everyday consumption.
The action connected informal work paid through tips, accelerated consumption, and the
multiplication of packaging. More than 400 stickers and over CLP $6,000 in tips recorded the
economic and material intensity of that short shift.
Entering the site of the action.Labeling during bagging.Circulation of plastic bags.Stickers accumulating on the uniform.Record at the end of the action.
TECHNICAL SHEET
Code: EMPA_CAPI_0001 Year: 2010 Type: Art action and photographic record Duration: Approximately 2 hours Action indicators: More than 400 stickers and over CLP $6,000 in tips Status: Main object not preserved; digital record available.
CONCEPTUAL READING
The sticker turns every delivery into a visible unit. The bagger's body
is also gradually covered, as if the flow of goods left a material accounting on the person
performing the service. The record allows the work to be reactivated in derived virtual or
installation formats.
