Bison depicted at the Altamira cave in northern Spain Thom Quine
The evocative Upper Paleolithic art (dating from roughly 44,000 to 12,000BC) found in caves in France and Spain has long intrigued art historical and scientific researchers. But one facet has stumped many scholars: Why are so many of these paintings found in remote, narrow, hard-to-reach halls or passages that cannot be navigated without artificial light?
A team of Israeli researchers suggests the answer: the torches used by the artists in such enclosed spaces triggered hypoxia, a state resulting from a reduced oxygen concentration that can stimulate dreams and hallucinations. By seeking out these tight spaces, the scientists suggest, the artists were aiming to achieve an altered state of consciousness that would put them in touch with the cosmos and inspire their imaginations.
08/03/2021 - La asociación de críticos alemanes, que fundó el evento en 2015, organizó este año una edición online que incluyó una selección de películas, conferencias y debates