Amazonia Açu

Amazonia Açu provides a kaleidoscopic overview of the aesthetic, cultural, and material diversity found in Amazonia as a means to upend flattening generalizations typically associated with the region and to reframe discourse on the subject within a contemporary context. Led by curatorial advisor Keyna Eleison and cocurated by a committee of representatives from all nine states (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela) of the territory, the exhibition presents over fifty works by thirty-four local artists and collectives. 

For an exhibition about the cultural production of Amazonian communities to be organized around principles of Western statehood involves a contradiction that we acknowledge and hope to directly address. Given that our institution is housed in a policy center, our art program is uniquely situated to think through such paradoxes and consider what the role of cultural diplomacy should be in shaping art historical discourse.

Eleison describes the project as a nine-faceted prism which “stands as an invitation to unravel colonial myths and clear spaces for different epistemologies. Each curator in this exhibition is one face of the prism, radiating their unique and indispensable perspective to help take account of Amazonia’s immensity.” By highlighting the different intellectual and artistic approaches implemented by artists from the Amazon, the exhibition places emphasis on and celebrates the multiplicities found throughout the region. Together, the artworks reflect how the artists engage with a variety of topical questions, including methods of artistic production, modes of knowledge sharing, community engagement, land rights politics, cultural heritage, and spirituality, and how they relate to our current moment.

Keyna Eleison served as curatorial advisor and the exhibition was cocurated by Grace Aneiza Ali, Christian Bendayán, Elvira Espejo Ayca, Diana Iturralde, Miguel Keerveld, NouN and T2i, Mateus Nunes, Luis Romero, and María Wills. 

To accompany the show, Americas Society will publish a catalogue and present the following public programs:

Amazonia Açu exhibition walkthrough with Keyna Eleison
Saturday, September 13, 3 to 4pm 
RSVP

Amazonia Açu, a conference organized with The Amazon Basin Connecting Borderland project
Tuesday, February 24, 5 to 8pm

More information coming soon, visit artatmericassociety.org for updates. For press inquiries, contact mediarelations@as-coa.org. For general inquiries, contact art@as-coa.org.