Allora & Calzadilla Specters of Noon opens at Menil Collection

Allora & Calzadilla’s new show Specters of Noon opened at the Menil Collection in Houston and will run through 20 June, offering a “haven” amid recent turmoil by immersing visitors in seven site‑specific installations drawn from a 1934 surrealist text on “acedia” [1].

Concept and soundscape

The duo, based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, created the works over four years, each referencing the Menils’ collection of art and literature. Central to the show is an eight‑hour sound cycle composed with David Lang, echoing the “static hum” of a volatile power grid and a bronze sculpture cast from a transformer that exploded during Hurricane Maria in 2017 [1]. The audio aims to invoke a mantra‑like focus, echoing the Menils’ belief that “absolute silence” is essential for full artistic engagement [1].

Context and future plans

Allora & Calzadilla’s practice often links natural processes, machines, and human action, as seen in earlier projects like the immersive light installation Puerto Rican Light (2015) in a limestone cave [1]. Their current exhibition continues this trajectory, exploring metaphysical crisis through the lens of “acedia,” a concept describing a restless, intolerable present [1]. The artists are also preparing a major exhibition at Portugal’s Serralves Museum, slated for announcement in the coming months [1].

What to watch

• Monitor announcements from the Menil Collection for any extensions beyond 20 June.
• Watch for the upcoming Serralves Museum exhibition details, which may include new works or collaborations.
• Note any future collaborations with composers or sound artists that could extend the eight‑hour audio cycle concept.

The show underscores how contemporary art can respond to collective anxiety, offering a contemplative space that bridges historical literature with present‑day crises, while hinting at the duo’s next major institutional engagement.