Documents of Latin American and Latino Art

Thomas Farkas is interested in the dynamics as well as the progression of photography. He states that professionals as well as amateurs learn through investigation of classic and modern techniques and what can further be done with photography; that [...]

In this article, critic Fernando Guillén Martínez reflects on the relationship between the artist and the environment surrounding the creative process. To that end, he starts out by explaining the universal law of symmetry that maintains the [...]

In this article, the art critic Marta Traba sought to define the quality of “genius” in art in terms of the concept of “anti-servile genius” suggested by the French novelist André Malraux. According to Traba, one of the main features of “ [...]

In this text, Marta Traba argues that the understanding, enjoyment, and appreciation of art are hindered by the common idea that it is comparable to reality. She defends the notion that art must be understood as an autonomous reality, which due to [...]

This is a quote from Ralph de Romero, a Puerto Rican artist born in New York, which is accompanied by a pen and ink drawing: “Depression limitates [sic] the creative activity, deteriorates the involvement and mutilates the concept.” Written in [...]

In this 1972 lecture, delivered at the Primer Seminario sobre Diseño Artesanal in Bogotá, and organized by the Asociación Colombiana de Promoción Artesanal and the Artesanías de Colombia, Carlos Rojas discusses creativity, understood as the [...]

In response to the questions put to her by Venezuelan filmmaker José Antonio Pantin, Gego remarks on the origin of her art and the processes it involves, focusing specifically on her three-dimensional work. She states that her works have been [...]

This text speaks of the evolution of sensorial perception and its relation to artistic expression. It proposes that the method of Adolfo Best Maugard be used in arts education because it would permit greater development and personal satisfaction [...]

The author wonders how indigenous American people compare to other civilizations. Darcy Ribeiro seeks to articulate a general theory to explain the formative and transformative processes that could provide an alternative to European ethnocentric [...]

Writing in a declarative style, Mário de Andrade launches into his “prefacio interesantísimo” [extremely interesting preface] by referring to the so-called “fundação do desvairismo” [Foundation of Delirium]. Alternately joking and [...]

In this article, the writer Mário de Andrade discusses the photomontages of poet Jorge de Lima. In the opinion of de Andrade, photomontage can be considered a new medium for lyrical expression and an introduction to modern art. He thinks that those [...]

This text by Julio Le Parc addresses the artist’s problems within the social context, posing a series of questions about the myths that continue to surround and affect a work of art. In general terms, it questions those who maintain the idea of [...]

By means o a poetic prose, art critic Jorge Romero Brest states that he fearfully admires the huge sculptures and lovingly cares about the drawings and small sculptures made by Líbero Badii. He analyzes the relationship between art and life, from [...]

Aldo Paparella writes to Libero Badii saying that one can communicate deeply from absolute silence. Paparella questions himself about the artist’s role, concluding that he should not only make artwork, but also provide answers about what he is [...]