Stenersenmuseet, Oslo, Aug 30 – Nov 4, 2012
The exhibition concept was initially inspired by an interest in Latin American literature and the influence that award-winning authors such as Jorge Amado, Jorge Luis Borges, Pablo Neruda, Mario Vargas Llosa, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Octavio Paz and Reinaldo Arenas have had on literature and poetry, not only in their home countries, but also internationally.
The exhibition title is inspired by Mario Vargas Llosa’s book The Storyteller (El Hablador). The unique storytelling tradition which characterizes Latin American literature has also inspired many contemporary artists around the world. Within this context, the exhibition investigates the work of contemporary artists from around the world, who are inspired, not only by these authors, but by literature and poetry in general, as seen in works that are typically highly narrative. Naturaly, there will be a strong emphasis on artists from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Colombia, but the exhibition will not be limited to Latin American artists, and the sources of literary inspiration also extend to other parts of the world, including authors such as James Joyce, Virginia Woolf and Italo Calvino, to name only a few. The participating artists represent Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Peru, USA, Benin, South Africa, Korea, Spain and Norway. The works featured in The Storytellers are not literal interpretations of literary works, but are all inspired in some way by literature and poetry. The cross between text and image, poetry and poetic subject matter creates a strong thread that ties the works of the exhibition together.
The works to be included in the exhibition are not necessarily intended to be literal interpretations of these authors, but will all be inspired in some way by literature. The cross between text and image, poetry and poetic subject matter will create a strong thread that will tie the works of the exhibition together.
Participating artists: Georges Adéagbo, Liliana Angulo, Mónica Bengoa, Milena Bonilla, Monika Bravo, Ryan brown, Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Eloisa Cartonera, William Cordova, Marilà Dardot, Lobato & Guimaraes, Alfredo Jaar, William Kentridge, Critsina Lucas, Fabio Morais, Ernesto Neto, Ulf Nilsen, Rosana Ricalde, Eder santos, Tracey Snelling, Valeska Soares, Elida tessler, YOUNG HAE-CHANG HEAVY INDUSTRIES, Nina Yuen, sergio Vega.
The exhibition will be on view at The Stenersen Museeum in Oslo, Norway, during the fall of 2012 (August 30 – November 4) and will be shown at additional venues throughout 2013, including El Museo de Arte de Banco de la Republica in Bogota, Colombia.
The exhbition is accompanied by a book published by the Italian publishing house, SKIRA with texts by Mario Vargas Llosa, Selene wendt, Gerardo Mosquera, and Paco Barragán, as well as an interview between Marilá Dardot & Guimaraes.