Wandering in the Land of Oblivion

CONSTANZA AGUIRRE

November 9, 2018–January 11, 2019

Wandering in the Land of Oblivion is a series of large-scale black and white works on paper representing figures in movement, performing gestures of human work and labor. Aguirre explores the possibilities of emancipation and reclamation through small acts of creation that resist the oblivion and dehumanization brought about by the hardships of displacement. Her work references thousands of her compatriots who have been forced to move due to the Colombian narcotics war and civil conflict.

In the words of French art critic Gérald Souillac, "the social impact of Aguirre’s work resides in the fact that it acknowledges the importance of art and craft making–herein painting–as a meaningful and dynamic representation of the vital need of humanity for freedom and progress.”

While her exhibition was on view, Aguirre will lead a Youth Project with Urbano Youth Artists around the theme of human migration and displacement focusing on art making as an act of individuation and remembrance.

Learn more about the Youth project

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Constanza Aguirre was born in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1960 and has lived in Paris, France since 1986. She studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and her work has been shown internationally. She is artistic director of the International Lab for Popular Housing/Laboratoire International pour l’Habitat Populaire (LIHP) in Saint-Denis, France. Recent solo exhibitions include Maison du Temps Libre (Stains, France), LIHP (Saint Denis, France), MUSARQ (Caracas, Venezuela), Biennale d’art contemporaine/Centre Culturel Max Juclier (Ville Neuve-la-garenne, France) and Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá (Bogotá, Colombia). Her work is in the collection of the Blanton Museum of Art (Austin,TX), and the Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá, (Bogotá, Colombia) among others. For more information, visit her website: http://aguirre-errance.blogspot.com/