Installation View

Venice Biennale: Chile and Peru

Peruvian artist Christian Bendayan explores how indigenous and trans people have been othered in Peru, while the solo exhibition of Chilean artist Voluspa Jarpa is a fictional museum that challenges Euro-centric narratives.

Voluspa Jarpa, The Subaltern Portrait Gallery, Venice Biennale.

by Will Furtado
Mon 20 May, 2019

The 58th Venice Biennale focuses on artists who challenge existing habits of thought and open up our readings of objects and images. Curated by Ralf Rugoff, the biennale features 79 artists in the international exhibition and 89 national pavilions. Here are our first impressions of the Peru and Chile pavilions at Arsenale, both open until until November 24, 2019.

Featuring paintings, installation, collage, and archival pieces, the solo exhibition of Peruvian artist Christian Bendayan, Trans Tropicalia (Fragments), explores how indigenous and trans people have been othered in Peru.

Altered Views, the solo exhibition of Chilean artist Voluspa Jarpa, is a fictional museum that challenges Euro-centric narratives while reflecting on racism, patriarchy, heteronormativity, and the link between economics and colonialism. Curated by Augustín Pérez Rubio, the show is divided into the Hegemony Museum, the Subaltern Portrait Gallery and the Emancipation Opera.

Christian Bendayan, Iron House, Venice Biennale, 2019. Photo: Will Furtado.

Christian Bendayan, Anthropophagous Indians, Venice Biennal 2019. Photo: Will Furtado.

Christian Bendayan, Animal Power, Venice Biennale 2019. Photo: Will Furtado.

Christian Bendayan, 'Indian Line' (Souvenir from Iquitos), Venice Biennale 2019. Photo: Will Furtado.

Christian Bendayan, Butterflies of the Amazon, Venice Biennale 2019. Photo: Will Furtado.

Voluspa Jarpa, Altered Views, The Hegemony Museum, Venice Biennale 2019. Photo: Will Furtado.

Voluspa Jarpa, Altered Views, The Hegemony Museum, Venice Biennale 2019. Photo: Will Furtado.

Voluspa Jarpa, Altered Views, The Hegemony Museum, Venice Biennale 2019. Photo: Will Furtado.

Voluspa Jarpa, Altered Views, The Hegemony Museum, Venice Biennale 2019. Photo: Will Furtado.

Voluspa Jarpa, Altered Views, The Hegemony Museum, Venice Biennale 2019. Photo: Will Furtado.

Text and photos by Will Furtado, deputy editor of Contemporary And based in Berlin.​

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