Contemporary Art in Latin America : ARTWORLD

Contemporary Art in Latin America continues the ARTWORLD series, bringing to light innovative contemporary art from across the globe. Delving into the artistic work from specific major geographical regions, the series continues to showcase both established and unknown artists whose work connects with their roots.

New in paperback, Contemporary Art in Latin America celebrates this intriguing region and its creative outputs, setting the vibrant artistic tradition within its historical and cultural contexts. The volume opens with a text section, including essays by valued figures in the contemporary art world, looking firstly at the historical origins of Latin American art and moving on to focus extensively on contemporary work being produced by artists from this region. This section of the book will also be supported by an artist interview, offering the reader a personal insight into the relationship between Latin America’s art and its cultural past, present and future. The second half of the book comprises a plate section showcasing a broad variety of the art and themes discussed elsewhere in the book. Contemporary Art in Latin America encourages readers to reflect upon the art in this region and by these artists in relation to its historical and geographical context and encompasses a wide spectrum of critical debates, including politics and curatorial practice.

The artists featured include those considered the most influential to emerge from the region during the last 50 years, such as Brazilian conceptual artist Cildo Meireles, whose work is currently being exhibited at Tate Modern, London and Hélio Oiticica and Lygia Clark, who along with Ivan Serpa, founded the Neo-Concretist art movement. Doris Salcedo is also included, who caused a stir with her piece Shibboleth ? creating a subterranean chasm that stretched the length of the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern. The work of new and emerging talents is also featured, such as Miguel Calderon, labelled the ?enfant terrible of contemporary art” and who has been described as having ?a knack for pushing crass stereotypes and clichés to absurd and provocative extremes”.

Encompassing the political and personal, Contemporary Art in Latin America is highly unique in its approach to exploring the artistic movements of this region, giving those with a genuine interest in art and culture an insight that is rich, engaging, shocking and inspiring.