The pandemic has compelled the art world to reinvent itself and to explore new exhibition platforms. The Tranque Cultural Center faced that situation. Just days before opening its “Archipresente: Latin American Art” show, it had to temporarily close its doors and then turn to a digital format through the link www.lobarnechea.cl/archipresente.

The exhibition showcases the work of 19 artists of different generations such as Paz Errázuriz, Gracia Barrios and Lily Garafulic, as well as younger artists who produce rupturist work such as Catalina Bauer, Nicolás Grum and Antuan Rodríguez. Paula Solimano was the curator.

Three major thematic elements sustain the show.  The first section is “Symbiosis with the landscape”, which addresses the way geography relates to political, economic and social processes. The second, “Popular Fervor,” presents a series of reflections on mass culture, while the third, “The Body as Heritage,” looks at the relation between the collective and individual body, with the figure of the monument as case study.

The exhibit’s digital format enables the public a detailed view of each entry, read the artists’ biographies next to their work, understand more about the curatorial process, and other information of interest to visitors.

“Archipresente” is an extraordinary show organized by the CA.SA Foundation, created by collectors Ramón Sauma and Gabriel Carvajal,  members and Friends of the Chilean Committee of the NMWA. Their work reflects three basic pillars: education, promotion and dissemination of contemporary emergent Latin American art. This is their first exhibit open to the public.

The CA.SA collection includes 900 works of Latin American contemporary art and Chilean, in particular, encompassing a vast range of styles and formats.