A Window into Latin America: Cecilia Brunson Projects
“Art is much more or much less. There may be art without study, but there can also be art within the study, and this in a way that can be conscious or unconscious. ”
Cecilia Brunson is an influential figure for Latin American Art globally: she has not only dedicated herself to portraying contemporary Latin American Artists in the global market but also has been an Associate Curator of Latin American Art at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, which is the institution with the most extensive collection of LATAM Art. In addition, Cecilia has also made an impact in the arts community both in Chile and London by founding a not-for-profit residency program titled INCUBO. Through INCUBO, Cecilia presents a fertile ground for international curators to be inspired by the Chilean art scene. Meanwhile, she introduces the Chilean artist to the London art scene through the AMA Fellowship. This conversation between cultures brings fresh and vibrant new creations to the UK and the Chilean art scenes.
In addition to all her contributions to LATAM art globally, she founded Cecilia Brunson Projects in 2017, located in Bermondsey, London. One of the things that sets Cecilia Brunson Projects apart from the rest is its commitment to showing and supporting Latin American art in the broader context of London’s contemporary art scene. While each gallery has its own point of view and artists’ roster, Cecilia Brunson Projects provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate Latin America’s rich cultural heritage and a wide range of artistic voices.
Luis Caballero, A Deliberate Defiance, Exhibition View, 2024. Photo Courtesy: Eva Herzog, Cecilia Brunson Projects.
Cecilia Brunson Projects is a space focusing on the presentation of Latin American artists, introducing them to a global art market but also showing the influence these artists have had in the art movements. The focus is on collaboration between curators and artists. The range of artists ranges from historical figures in LATAM art, such as Luis Caballero, to uncovering "the careers of pivotal 20th-century artists, such as Feliciano Centurión, Victor Magariños D., and Katie van Scherpenberg." as stated in the gallery catalog. Cecilia Brunson Projects has also been impacted through its presence in art fairs such as Frieze.
Currently exhibiting in Cecilia Brunson Projects is the exhibition Luis Caballero: A Deliberate Defiance. In this exhibition, he selected some of the large-scale works of Luis Caballero to bring to life his charcoal line work, his meticulous use of light and dark, and the rich emotions of the body. All works presented are from the last 15 years of his life, in which he gives his human anatomy skills and way of perceiving the movements and emotions exerted by the human form. The exhibition examines multiple topics of experiencing the work, where the pieces present a distorted but recognizable male figure showing admiration and struggle towards the body. The proportion of the pieces offers a sculptural aspect to them. Luis Caballeros' works are evocative and reflect Colombia's tumultuous social and political context during his lifetime. His work is a delightful creation of exaggerated forms and expressive gestures. The works are a narrative in motion, with a hazy past and energetic present. These emotionally charged works show the artistic capabilities of Luis Caballero to comment on social injustice and political violence in Colombia during his lifetime.
Luis Caballero, Untitled, 1979. Photo Courtesy: Eva Herzog, Cecilia Brunson Projects.
“Caballero’s depiction of the triumph of survival, of love and defiance leaves the viewer with their own courage to feel in the most genuine way and to allow themselves to be lost within his world. ”
Luis Caballero is one of the most critical figures in Colombian Art. He has made history as a well-skilled artist by introducing themes such as sexuality and queerness. Caballero was born in Bogota, Colombia, in 1947; his studies in the arts were initiated from a young age when he studied Fine Arts at the University de Los Andes. Later, he moved to France to look at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. These years studying and living in Paris became highly influential to his works as he gained inspiration from the High Renaissance and the representations of male nudes in the Church. This period in Paris was the point where he liberated his sensual and passionate expressions toward the male form. Caballero shows all the emotions and struggles a body can withhold through this subject. The intricate use of tensions and release between bodies and light, each piece holds a narrative of its own; they are pieces in motion, pieces with life. His work continues to be celebrated for its emotional intensity and social relevance, being pieces that ignite change and emotion. Just as provocative as his work has been his legacy, multiple artists study Luis Caballero, getting inspired by his capacities to transform lines into narratives, play with a flat surface and add depth, and complete mastery of light grazing the human anatomy.
Luis Caballero, Untitled, 1979. Photo Courtesy: Eva Herzog, Cecilia Brunson Projects.
This exhibition is not only a celebration of Colombian Art history and talent, but when exhibited in the Cecilia Brunson Projects space, it brought to a new light displayed in a meditative open space where the paintings can become sculptures, the movements can transcend into the walls, and the human nature of every charcoal mark whispers narratives that linger. A memorable exhibition full of emotion and history, it was on show until February 9th, 2024. Through this show, the internal, social and political struggles are presented such that it allows for a conversation to be started on how even though they were inspired by a specific individual and a specific country they are globally relevant. This show was truly an experience that mixes the past and the present, the struggle but the search of the human to come out of it actively.
To discover more about Cecilia Brunson Projects visit their website.
Celeste Melgar
Features Co-Editor, MADE IN BED
