The Many Islands of “America”
A show on art from Cuba, Guam, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and their diasporas touches on themes of colonization, enslavement, migration, and more.
At the Colby College Museum of Art in Maine, an exhibition titled "Imagining an Archipelago: Art from Cuba, Guam, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Their Diasporas" showcases four works embodying its themes. Zilia Sánchez's painting uses white marks that blur abstract and figurative styles, while Félix González-Torres's "Untitled (USA Today)" includes red, white, and blue candies to symbolize the American flag.
Craig Santos Perez's concrete poem on the wall reads "Archipelagoes resemble constellations," and Juana Valdés's photographs document a performance in Havana in 2000 addressing Cuban migration to the United States. These artworks explore themes of colonization, migration, and diaspora, with over 40 contemporary artists contributing to the exhibition.
Curator Jessamine Batario emphasizes the importance of archipelagic thinking, considering the unique relationship and solidarity among the islands despite their distinctiveness. The show is divided into sections by region and theme, with artists addressing topics such as migrant labor, health care workers during COVID-19, and US militarism.
Written by urgent.news from Hyperallergic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
