Projects

String Data Art: the Social Network Analysis of Concurso de Cante Jondo (1922)

Details

  • When: 2025-2026
  • Project type: Exhibits & Installations
String Data Art: the Social Network Analysis of Concurso de Cante Jondo (1922) logo or decorative image

String Data Art: the Social Network Analysis of Concurso de Cante Jondo (1922) is a data art installation created by our 2025-2026 Data Artist Sara Arribas Colmenar.

As part of her completed Penn State dissertation, Constellations of Artists: A Study of Creative Spaces and Social Network Analysis in Spanish Intellectual Public Exhibitions and Circuits (1909-1936), Dr. Arribas Colmenar used data visualization methods to map cultural networks within Spain’s artistic and intellectual circles. This project aims to translate the results of a social network analysis (SNA) of the Concurso de Cante Jondo (1922) into a physical string art piece. The Concurso de Cante Jondo (1922) was a pivotal cultural event in the history of flamenco, held in Granada to preserve and promote the purest form of flamenco singing. The data for this project was carefully curated from various historical sources, including official records, newspapers, and photographs, allowing for the mapping of key events, people, and connections that defined the contest and its impact on the flamenco and cultural scene of the time.

Dr. Arribas Colmenar has actively documented her design, research, and building process on social media: @sararribas.bsky.social, including through using the #DHmakes hashtag during Spring and Summer 2025.

Her 2025 peer-reviewed journal article, “Constelaciones de artistas: análisis y teoría de redes aplicado a la danza y el teatro español (1914-1934)” discusses the methodological digital humanities scholarship that also drives her critical making work: social network analysis (SNA) applied to historical dance and theater.

Photo of Dr. Sara Arribas Colmenar presenting on her critical making data art project, which uses colorful string, nails, paint, and photographs to analyze historical social relationships around a major Flamenco event in early 20th-century Spain. Two audience members look on in interest. Dr. Sara Arribas Colmenar presenting on her critical making data art project, which uses colorful string, nails, paint, and photographs to analyze historical social relationships around a major Flamenco event in early 20th-century Spain.

Installation

The String Data Art: the Social Network Analysis of Concurso de Cante Jondo (1922) installation is on display in the Scholars’ Lab public space (Common Room VR Corner, Shannon Library 308). It includes a QR code for visiting Arribas Colmenar’s virtual tour of the project.

Photo of the VR corner of the Scholars' Lab Common Room, showing a square rug, windows into an atrium, and a colorful research string art exhibit on the wall, with multiple panels sharing photos and historical background. Photo of the VR corner of the Scholars’ Lab Common Room, where String Data Art is installed.

Photo of Sara Arribas Colmenar's data art installation, a colorful research string art exhibit on the wall, with multiple panels sharing photos and historical background and explaining how to read the colorful strings modeling artistic historical relationships Photo of Sara Arribas Colmenar’s data art installation.

Closeup photo of string network visualization showing how layers and connections are more visible from the side Closeup photo of string network visualization showing how layers and connections are more visible from the side.

Screenshot of the article info and string viz image from Arribas Colmenar's "Constelaciones de artistas" journal article

Photo by Arribas Colmenar of her installation work in progress, showing a door-sized board with nails holding various coloed strings in a network viz, a variety of paint pots in various colors, and in the background their laptop screen showing the digital version of their social media analysis Arribas Colmenar’s work in progress.

Collaborators: