(Montevideo, Uruguay)
The IV Biennial of Montevideo takes a look at the art of ocean mass that 500 years ago concatenated America, Africa and Europe forever. Under the slogan “Atlantic Crossings”, the biennial invite 30 artists from three continents (America, Africa and Europe) who address the relationship of cultural tension inherent in the triangle, from the colonial period to nowadays, including Arjan Martins, André Severo and Anna Azevedo (Brazilian participating artists). Curated by Alfons Hug, the event is opened until December 15, 2019.
“All seas are colossal repositories of history and culture, but none surpasses the Atlantic in terms of accumulation of dramas and revolutionary events that would forever change the course of the world. From the first voyages in 1492, the Atlantic was the scene of permanent border crossings, including that between the Old and the New World. Its western coast remained unknown for a long time, and even its discovery was from the beginning a misunderstanding, considering that the first European sailors thought they had reached the Indies. In fact, the name of the English-speaking islands in the Caribbean is until now West Indies, British West Indies. More than 60 million Europeans, to whom Goethe shouted: “America, you do better,” fled poverty to seek a more promising future in new latitudes in the West, while at least 12 million Africans were transhipped as slaves to the Americas”. – Alfons Hug.
Despite certain historical points of reference, the Biennial has as its central axis a modern configuration of cultural dynamics and interdependence among the Atlantic neighbours, within its focus on African, Afro-Uruguayan and Afro-Brazilian art.
Artists and participating countries: Adad Hannah (Canada), Adriana Bustos (Argentina), Alec Soth (USA), André Severo (Brazil), Andrew Tshabangu (South Africa), Anna Azevedo (Brazil), Arjan Martins (Brazil), Chris Larson (USA), Federico Arnaud (Uruguay), Fernando López Lage (Uruguay), Frank Thiel (Germany), George Osodi (Nigeria), Iris Buchholz Chocolate (Germany / Angola), Jacinto Galloso (Uruguay) Karo Akpokiere, (Nigeria), Léonce Raphael Agbodjélou (Benin), Mame-Diarra Niang , (France), Marco Montiel-Soto (Venezuela), Mary Evans (Nigeria), Mary Porto Casas (Uruguay), Mohau Modisakeng (South Africa), Mónica Millán (Argentina) Nandy Cabrera (Uruguay), Nástio Mosquito (Angola), Okhai Ojeikere (Nigeria), Omar Victor Diop (Senegal), Vasco Araújo (Portugal), Viviane Sassen (Netherlands), Youssef Limoud , (Egypt) and Zanele Muholi (South Africa).
IV Biennial of Montevideo, with Arjan Martins, André Severo and Anna Azevedo
Curated by Alfons Hug and co-curated by Alejandro Cruz
From October 25 to December 15, 2019
