TERRITORIES: Contemporary Latin American Art in the Jorge M. Perez Collection
CAAC, Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo, Seville, Spain
2 March – 1 September 2024
During my visit to Seville last week, I went to a temporary art exhibition titled: TERRITORIES – Contemporary Latin American Art in the Jorge M. Pérez Collection, at the CAAC, Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo, based at the Monastery of the Cartuja (Charterhouse).
The exhibition showcases a selection of works by more than 50 contemporary Latin American artists. Curated by the topics on which these artists choose to focus with their work, it highlights the socio-cultural plurality of Latin America and their concerns in relation to politics, borders, inequality, ethnicity, and integration with nature, among others. Including an abstract art room that is a bit more difficult to categorize in relation to these themes.
The collection on display belongs to Jorge M. Pérez (1949), known for his association with one of the most prestigious art institutions in the United States, the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). Pérez was born in Argentina to Cuban parents and raised in Colombia. A resident of Miami since 1968, he is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who began collecting art at a young age to maintain a connection with his Hispanic American roots and cultural heritage.
Upon entering the art show, the first artworks that greeted us were from ‘Colour is my business, 2012-2016’ by Alexander Apostol (Venezuela, 1969), a series of 12 photographs identifying the colours of Venezuelan political parties. It reminded me of the vibrant works of Brazilian artists like Hélio Oiticica – a joyful way to start an art show.
In the first room, there is also a floor art installation by Maria Nepomuceno (Brazil, 1973), incorporating weaving, ceramics, wood, and glass. It establishes a relationship between the body and nature, reflecting on memory and promoting an encounter between past, present, and future.
Another piece that caught my attention was ‘Dead Rats Don’t Open Their Mouths, 2014’ by MORIS (Israel Meza Moreno) (Mexico, 1978). His work offers a glimpse into everyday urban culture, integrating diverse social codes of the street.
Another room titled ‘Cartographies of the Spirit’ explores territorial intersection and socio-political boundaries, with works like Mateo Lopez’s (Bogota, Colombia, 1978) blackboard ‘Board, 2014,’ reflecting on identity and memory.
In the central corridor, ‘Vertical 19’ by Claudia Andujar (Switzerland, 1931) portrays the Yanomamis in the Catrimani River basin in Brazil, showing their integration with nature.
A separate room showcases ‘Eu, mestizo, 2017’ by Jonathas de Andrade (Brazil, 1982), exploring mestizaje, ethnicity, and class in Latin America. Andrade dismantles the myth of racial democracy in Brazil with series of pictures of men and women in contrast with the adjectives extracted from the book ‘Race and Class in Rural Brazil’ published in the 1950s by Columbia University and the UNESCO, placing racial issues in a historical perspective that is far from being resolved.
The room titled “Me, Myself and I” was dedicated to gender and identity, two intertwined themes as well as objects of activism and discussion in Latin America. Herman Bas (Miami, 1978), for instance, addresses issues of identity and belonging. Bas challenges conventional gender expectations and decontextualizes objects to provoke reflection.
‘Panorama Catatumbo, 2018’ by Nohemi Perez (Colombia, 1964), a charcoal-on-fabric work, depicts territories affected by unequal development and internal conflicts.
Another artwork that caught my attention was ‘Mantle I’ by Alice Wagner (Lima, Peru, 1974) that focuses on power and colonization where she combines different medium and techniques as a reflection and a confrontation between indigenous and European cultures and how these interactions have influenced Peruvian identity. In the same room, I found also outstanding the work by Claudia Coca (Lima, 1970) where she uses drawings simulating National Geographic covers, which from the artist’s point of view addresses scientific, cultural and historic topics that insist on the wild, exotic and distant in contrast to the West. The myth of the Other and its alien nature is clearly reflected here.
In one of the final rooms titled ‘Memory and Resistance,’ I encountered the works of some of the most renowned artists featured in this exhibition. Doris Salcedo (Bogota, Colombia, 1958) gives voice to the lives lost and forgotten due to the war on drug trafficking, ensuring they remain in collective memory by displacing everyday objects. In this instance, I observed a chair laden with cement.
Ana Mendieta (Cuba, 1948 – USA, 1985) presents a series of photographs exploring the connection between the body and nature through her performances and sculptures, drawing attention to violence against women in the USA. Meanwhile, Tania Bruguera (Cuba, 1968) addresses the lack of expression and freedom with two pieces showcased in this exhibition, which can also be viewed below.
Finally, ‘Statue of Liberty falling, 1983’ by Argentinian artist Marta Minujin (Buenos Aires, 1943) was created to commemorate the restoration of democracy in Argentina.
The exhibition effectively organizes the artworks around key themes related to Latin American artists, exploring issues such as racism, ethnicity, class, and borders. It presents brilliant works by highly acclaimed artists, shedding light on important cultural and political issues affecting Latin America.
Seville’s historical significance as a river port and its role in transatlantic trade bring valuable context to the exhibition’s location. This exhibition contributes to the cultural landscape of Seville and its historical connections with Latin America.
In the 16th century, Seville was the main gateway for the transatlantic trade of the Spanish Empire, thanks to its status as Spain’s only river port and as one of the largest cities in Western Europe. For this reason, the choice of Seville as the venue for this exhibition is significant, as it revitalizes the city’s historical role as a point of connection and highlights the deep cultural ties between Spain and Latin America.
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