Daniel Canogar. Phloem

The German energy mix as a pixel fabric: As part of the “Pixelweaver” exhibition by Daniel Canogar (*1964, Madrid) at the EnBW Group headquarters, the ZKM is presenting the data-based animation “Phloem” (2023) by the Spanish-American media artist on an LED wall in the foyer.

The work visualizes the energy mix in Germany in real time as a constantly changing composition. To this end, the algorithm programmed by the artist draws on daily data available on the Internet about the megawatts of electricity generated in Germany through the use of various energy sources such as hydropower, gas, oil, waste incineration, wind, geothermal energy, solar energy, biomass, nuclear power and coal. The animation based on this shows the energy map of Germany as a fragile, decentralized resource network that realigns itself depending on weather conditions and the time of day and night. The title of the work is borrowed from biology and refers to the nutrient pathways of a plant, which function in a similar way to our blood vessels. At the same time, the artist refers to the technical infrastructures that supply our society in everyday life largely unnoticed - just like the data streams that underlie Canogar's generative artwork and constantly generate and shape it anew.