Doris Salcedo on Colombia's Refusal to Forget
“Works of art last much longer than their governments,” she told Hyperallergic in an interview following the far-right president’s removal of works from the National Museum.
Doris Salcedo, the renowned Colombian artist, recently shared her thoughts on the controversy surrounding the removal of artworks from the Museo Nacional in Bogotá. The objects, which included pieces related to LGBTQ+ rights, the 2016 peace agreement with FARC, and the legacies of murdered left-wing leaders, were taken down by the far-right president Abelardo De la Espriella.
The incident sparked widespread outrage, with hundreds protesting in the streets and facing police repression. Salcedo, known for her poignant exploration of memory and political trauma, discussed how this act of censorship has inadvertently brought attention to the museum and its significance in Colombian society. Despite the museum's troubled past, the government's misguided move has led to an unexpected surge in public engagement and creative responses from the cultural community.
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