This article is a passionate dialogue between two well established Colombian artists active on the art scene starting in the sixties. While both men share an interest in the drawing medium, Álvaro Barrios (b. 1945) is more inclined to Conceptual and Pop art, whereas Luis Caballero (1943?95) explores painting in more formal terms. At the time of the interview (1981), it was uncommon for artists to engage in a spontaneous discussion of the issues addressed here. They discuss, for instance, the crucial role of Argentine art critic Marta Traba (1923–83) in establishing Modern art in Colombia. Traba was able to formulate a reflection on foreign tendencies in art without neglecting the search for Colombian identity. With the benefit of hindsight, Barrios and Caballero see that Traba supported certain artists categorically while rejecting others. They conclude, though, that while criticism may provide certain parameters for understanding art, what ultimately endures is the work itself. In the end, artists must learn to overcome any and all obstacles.
The artists exchange opinions about what Colombian art should be like. A complex discussion ensues on the need to monitor the amount of foreign influence on young artists in order to protect their creativity and mental clarity. Caballero asserts that art must come from the gut and defy imposed grammars which, in the end, yield lukewarm production. With these statements, Caballero voices a direct criticism of Barrios’s work as the curator of Un arte para los años ochenta, an exhibition of Conceptual art. While Barrios accepts the criticism, he argues that the works in that show must be seen in relation to new conceptual frameworks as opposed to the formulations that had been operative for the past two decades. In closing, the two men make reference to artists they both hold in esteem as they express the view that authenticity—along with personality—is what it takes to make honest and coherent work.