Curated by Osbel Suárez
There is a modern discourse in Latin America that is particularly associated with geometric art, constructivism and concrete art. The history of this modern volition was originally situated in the south of the continent at the end of the first half of the twentieth century. It went up along the Atlantic slope leaving not only a body of manifestos and proclamations, but the invention of a visual language that although having references to the abstract heritage of old Europe, knew how to trancended it and create its own identity.
The “other half” with a basin in the Pacific, also echoed this movement, albeit with a slight general asynchronicity. This initial mismatch still arrises today because the modern volitions from Chile, Peru and Ecuador are lesser known and their presence in exhibitions and museums is usually for testimonial character. In this sense, the Pacific coast’s segment of modernity still hopes to consolidate and give visibility to their public and private collections to be able to create a dialogue that deserves to be established on an equal standard.
PINTA Modern’s interest and commitment lie this exciting narration that presents a continent away from its usual stereotype, one much closer to a rational realm and modern utopia. This interest is not confined to the pictorial or sculptural, but intends to also explore other and perhaps lesser known artists who equally transgress the norm. Photography, architecture, poetry and design also made the transformation possible that led us into the artistic practices of the 1960s which had intentions that were more organic, more political, more sensory and more conceptual.
Osbel Suárez
Osbel Suárez has a BFA in Art History from the University of Havana. He lives and works in Madrid. From 1999 to 2008, he served as curator and exhibitions coordinator at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. Subsequently, he was Chief Curator at CIFO EUROPE until 2012.
Among the exhibitions he has curated, special mention may be made of La pasión por el libro (MNCARS and Staatsbibliothek, Berlin, 2002), Jesse Fernández’ retrospective (MNCARS, 2003), Lo[s] cinético[s](MNCARS, 2007 and Tomie Ohtake Institute, 2008). The latter show, which won the Critics’ Award granted by the Sao Paulo Association of Art Critics, explored the kinetic art movement from a trans-historical perspective and vindicated the contributions of Latin America to the kinetic discourse. In 2009, Suárez curated for the Museu d`Art Espanyol Contemporany the exhibition Cruz-Diez. El color sucede and in 2011, he inaugurated at the Juan March Foundation América Fría. La abstracción geométrica en Latinoamérica (1934-1973). In 2012, a significant part of the CIFO Collection was presented, under his curatorship, at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana.
He has curated and written the prologues for exhibitions by Julio le Parc, Ana Mercedes Hoyos, Alberto Fabra, Antonio Asís, Francisco Sobrino, Leo Matiz, and Carmen Calvo, among others. He has been a member of the staff of the Master of Museology courses at the University of Granada, and has delivered courses and lectures in museums, universities and foundations in Europe, the United States and Latin America, where he is also an advisor for important collections.
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PINTA Contemporary
Curated by the Curatorial Committee
Collectively curated by the Curatorial Committee, this section gives priority to contemporary artists from Latin America, Spain and Portugal and incorporates artists from Europe and the United States. The Committee is responsible for the research and selection of compelling projects with the objective of creating a dialogue between established and emerging artists who share similar interests within their contexts.