Known for his robotic artworks, Fernando Palma Rodríguez’s practice often draws from the agricultural region of Milpa Alta, situated on the slopes of the Teuhtli Volcano, where he lives. He advocates for the reclamation of ancestral knowledge as a feature of everyday life and a blueprint for a more sustainable future. Watch this Artist in Focus to see Rodríguez explore how his three kinetic works speak to the origin of maize and pay homage to Nahua cosmovision. For example, the robotic installation ‘Cincoatl’ (2024) merges the form of a serpent and spider, with golden feathers that periodically unfurl. The installation ‘Birds’ (2024) features a series of motorised, clacking spoons, while ‘Tlacatl’ (2024) uses the same motor-driven technology to animate clay pots and plates. 

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