Client: Papalote Museo de Nino
Year: 2008
Siesta (2008) is based on a painting from 1926 by Mexican artist Ramón Cano Manilla (1888-1974). In it we see two figures each sleeping in a hammock, the peep box shows these two characters as mischievous. The story is inspired by Charlie Chaplin, but also cartoons like Tom and Jerry – doing their best to con and trick each other. Siesta is permanently installed at Papalote Museo del Niño, Cuernavaca, in Mexico.
Through the peep box, the painting is brought to life by using layers of video, animation and sound. It is a modern interpretation of a peep show, set in a traditional 17th-century style wooden box. One side of the box displays a replica of the painting. In the middle of the image, the visitor finds a small peeping hole. When looking into the box through the image, a stage-like setup of the painting is revealed.