Lithos/Pathos is a body of work and research trajectory that explores the confluence of the contemporary geopolitical, social, technological and aesthetic dimensions of Lithium, the rare metal at the epicenter of the clean energy debate.

Lithos/Pathos: XCX, 2024. single-channel 4k video. Runtime 20 Minutes

From the presentation of the lithium-laced crystals, the soundtrack derived from sounds from both deep within the physical crystal itself, and cosmic noise, or background radiation from deep space—where some of the crystals originated from—as well as the hyper-detailed and macro 360 degree visuals, the project aims to embody the crystals as living entities, givers of life and power, and creatures in their own right. It affords viewers a more tangible, less abstract connection to the materials and processes involved in clean energy and specifically the mining of rare metals such as lithium. The idea of lithium crystals and the role they play in extractivist economics is different than the physical form of lithium crystals, of the landscapes transformed by mining, and of the inhabitants of the mining and processing sites.

By conducting research and producing artistic gestures, Lithos/Pathos aimes to map out the stakes in the imminent clean energy transition by looking at the unique convergence of the neo-colonial urges of the West, Silicon Valley as a site of far-right and left political tempest, extractivist economies, technocratic optimism, virtual and IRL activist strategies, and the spread of political fiction on social media platforms.

Project elements include documents of the physical sites of Lithium mining and processing, interviews with activists, indigineous peoples, and economic stakeholders, land surveys, critical analysis of social, political, and aesthetic/material implications of Lithium. Throughout 2025, several exhibitions are planned, commencing first with TO  THOSE WHO CREATE THE FUTURE at Themes+Projects gallery in San Francisco, opening on February 1st.