1-54 Forum London 2020 | oliviapeterson

I felt like a Black guy from New York trapped in Peru

Curated with Julia Grosse and Yvette Mutumba

October 2020

The all-digital programme, curated with Julia Grosse and Yvette Mutumba (Co-founders and editors of Contemporary And and Contemporary And América Latina), invited creatives from Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa to discuss the historical and contemporary ties between the three geographies and how this has manifested in their cultural scenes. 1-54 Forum asked questions such as, why is it important to bring together and discuss shared histories and experiences as well as the differences? How can cultural production be generated around these issues? What impact has visibility, or rather invisibility, had on Afro-Latin American creatives and their work within their respective scenes? How have the art scenes in the Caribbean positioned themselves within the growing “hype” around their historical and recent artistic production?

Speakers included Carmenza Banguera, Koral Carballo, Ramiro Camelo, Caryl* Ivrisse Crochemar, Enorê, Entes, Magnus Elias Rosengarten, Will Furtado, Evan Ifekoya, Koffi Mensah, Gaby Messina, Rosana Paulino, Gabriela Salgado, Luciane Ramos Silva, Raquel Villar-Pérez, Nicolás Vizcaíno Sánchez, Rhea Storr and Alberta Whittle.

The Programme

Keynote: What is ‘Latinx’?

The term “Latinx” is an update of traditional labels such as “Hispanic” or “Latin” which emerged around the mid-twentieth century to describe Latin American migrant communities in the US. ALDEIDE DELGADO (Independent Latinx Curator and Founding Director of Women Photographers International Archive) talks about the implications and opportunities of the new expression.

Representation Beyond Representation

In this current moment that sees a rise of interest in Europe and North America towards Caribbean art scenes and art histories the panel asks questions around who is represented by who, where and how? What does this rising attention mean? How or does this even affect cultural producers from the Caribbean and its Diaspora? Speakers include CARYL* IVRISSE CROCHEMAR (Founding Director of espace d’art contemporain 14N 61W), ALBERTA WHITTLE (Artist), RHEA STORR (Artist) and moderator MAGNUS ELIAS ROSENGARTEN (Writer and artist).

Modes of Resistance

What role does or should play contemporary art in moments like these? On a political, personal, global scale? Why is it crucial? Or isn’t it? What role play important notions of solidarity and self-care? This panel invites artists and academics to discuss current urgencies and strategies in the context of the Brazilian art scenes. This includes academic and artistic perspectives. Speakers include ROSANA PAULINO (Artist, educator and curator), LUCIANE RAMOS SILVA (Dancer, independent curator, choreographer and anthropologist), ENORÊ (Artist) and moderated by RAQUEL VILLAR-PÉREZ (Assistant Curator at Photoworks and researcher).

Global Connections

What are the shared histories, narratives and experiences, what are the differences that define the connections between Afro-Latin America, The Caribbean and Africa? How, if it all, does this affect cultural producers finding themselves in a creative state of flux? Speakers include KOFFI MENSAH (Artist), EVAN IFEKOYA (Artist) and moderated by JULIA GROSSE and YVETTE MUTUMBA (Founding editors of Contemporary & and Contemporary América Latina).

A View from the Other Side of Things

Many of the inequalities inherited from slavery in Colombia still remain, having an impact on different levels of society. This panel brings together cultural producers from afro-Colombian perspectives to discuss the notions of inequality and invisibility in the context of Colombia’s creative/art sector. Speakers include RAMIRO CAMELO (Curator at Myymälä2), NICOLÁS VIZCAÍNO SÁNCHEZ (Artist), CARMENZA BANGUERA (Artist) and moderated by WILL FURTADO (Artist, writer and deputy editor at Contemporary &). Interpretation to/from Spanish by MARIA BARRERA.

Language: English and Spanish

Relationship Status: It’s Complicated

The profound distortions related to African legacy in Argentina, Mexico and Peru are still far from being part of a mainstream narrative. The historical, institutional and personal difficulties in examining African identity in Argentina, Mexico and Perus are also becoming more and more relevant for various cultural producers using artistic activism as a tool for raising awareness. Speakers include GABY MESSINA (Artist), KORAL CARBALLO (Photographer), ENTES (Artist) moderated by GABRIELA SALGADO (Curator). Interpretation to/from Spanish by MARIA BARRERA.