It was the man with the beard that seduced me; guess I’m a bit of a sucker for 70s facial hair.
The new exhibition at DRAF, guest curated by Pablo Leon de la Barra, includes a collection of black and white photographs by David Lamelas.
Yes, the portraits depict a cool Latin American glamorous set, residing in London during the 1960s-1970s, all Devendra Barnhart free spirit curls, nostalgic grins and sweeping kaftans. But don’t be fooled, this is a complex show.
Creativity in art and literature boomed in Latin America during the 1960s and 70s. The emergence of Latin American conceptual art sought to question the very nature of art itself and its place in society, heavily influenced by the raging politics of the time. Political turmoil defined Latin America, the violence and struggles it faced. In the grip of the Cold War, the Cuban Revolution, the rule of authoritarian regimes throughout Argentina, Brazil and Peru, among others, brought Pinochet to power in Chile, beginning a 17 year reign of oppressive terror. Influenced and incensed, art and artists took on strong radical ideas.
The show Friends of London traces a small but influential and important period in Latin American Art during this time. It comprised of a group of Latin American artists working and living in London during the late 1960s and 1970s. It’s a scene that, I admit, I am not at all familiar with so it would be easy to dismiss, as one tends to do when you just ‘don’t get’ something, but its importance became apparent during subsequent conversations with friends in the art world. Eager to find out more about this fascinating time and the artists involved, I’m reading, digesting and trying to fully comprehend the artists at work. Another trip to the current DRAF exhibition is already planned to fuel my nascent fascination.
Saying all that, you don’t have to fully immerse yourself in the scene to appreciate New York based Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuña. The exhibition showcases a replica of her Ruca Abstracta (Abstract Hut), an installation of paintings and objects, which was originally created for the Arts Festival for Democracy in Chile at the Royal College of Art in 1974. She is an important artist and as a political activist, heavily involved in opposition movements, in exile from Chile since 1973. She exhibits and performs multidimensional work, entangled with symbolism and complexities. A poet, artist and performance artist, she draws extensively from her Andean culture and her country’s dramatic political changes. In her own words she describes her work as a way of “hearing an ancient silence waiting to be heard”.
If you’re a novice to this world like me, then best not try to understand it, just enjoy the pieces that you are drawn to (even if that involves a beard).
And, more importantly, let’s celebrate the freedom that London gave these artists during a dark period in political history.
