The Heart’s Knowledge: Science and Empathy in the Art of Dario Robleto

A thematic appraisal of Robleto’s intertwined fascinations with the human heart and the cosmic boundaries of perception

The prints, sculptures and films of Houston-based artist Dario Robleto (born 1972) explore the pathos and the speculative potential of scientific inquiry. Structured around three themes that run through Robleto’s art—heartbeats, wavelengths and horizons—this book traces his intertwined fascinations with the human heart and the cosmic boundaries of perception. Through contributions across the disciplines of musicology, anthropology, cardiology, engineering, history of science and art history, The Heart’s Knowledge offers an engaging companion to Robleto’s wide-ranging work. Richly illustrated with images, the volume includes selections from his 2017 portfolio The First Time, The Heart (A Portrait of Life 1854–1913), which transforms the pulse waves of early cardiography into a gallery of vanished souls, and the astral projections in such films as The Boundary of Life is Quietly Crossed (2020).