Fragmented States offers a contemporary (albeit archaic) statement by juxtaposing two contrasting elements: the story of Naga, a mythological tale generated by artificial intelligence, and the utopian nationalism represented in David Alfaro Siqueiros’ monumental high relief, The March of Humanity, which was painted on the interior walls of the Polyforum in the early 1970s. This approach offers a critique of the late futurism characteristic of Siqueiros’ revolutionary muralism.

For the musical performance a choir sang the myth of Naga, an immense serpent that created the world through its vocal sculpting. This ancient creature, predating the Mexican Revolution by trillions of years, slithers its way into the heart of Mexico City’s abandoned modernist architecture.

Naga rejuvenates by shedding its skin every 25 million years. In this performance, Naga’s essence is captured as the choir’s voices, fragmented and echoing, reverberate through the unusual angles of an architecture so peculiar it seems like a portal into another world. The primordial serpent narrates the story of humanity’s final escape from Earth, moments before the planet shatters into a thousand pieces, like a new Big Bang. The music emerges from a fusion of the spiritual quality of voices and the physicality of percussion, embodying both body and soul.

The premiere of Fragmented States featured a unique ensemble of 20 singers, 20 percussionists, and 20 dancers, with the talents of experimental singer Sarmen Almond, percussionist Diego Espinosa, and choreographer Priscila Hernández. Together, they embodied Naga, the great serpent deity that created the universe. The performance was presented at Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros, in February 2024, in the context of the 10 years anniversary of Material Art Fair.