Biennial of Central American Art Opens in Tegucigalpa

As of Thursday November 13, 2008, the sixth edition of the Visual Arts Biennial of the Central American Isthmus (BAVIC’ 08, short for Bienal de Artes Visuales del Istmo Centroamericano 2008), is open to the public at the Museum of National Identity in Tegucigalpa.

The exhibition, running through February 20, 2009, features 72 works of art created by 36 artists from the five Central American countries. It is held in a different participating country each time on a rotating basis and is one of the region’s most important cultural events. The representatives of the participating countries have been chosen in advance at the local biennial or by a committee, in those countries who do not hold such an event.

The central subject of the participants’ works of art, which include sculptures and installations as well as paintings, are the social problems faced in the region, ranging from poverty to women’s issues

For example, Guatemalan artist Veronica Ridle´s “Mototaxi blindado” shown on this page, is an expression of the feeling of insecurity caused by violence. Her compatriot Guillermo Maldonado´s work, a copy which is on display on one of the walls of the Clamel cinema building in the centre of Tegucigalpa (also shown on this page) focuses on the topic of migration.

Furthermore, other participants from Guatemala include Andres Asturias, Daniel Hernandez Salazar, Guillermo Gutiérrez Solé, Isabel Ruiz, and the group La Torana, which was chosen for its outstanding contribution to the Paiz Biennial in Guatemala earlier this year.

El Salvador is represented by Alexia Vantage point, Boris Ciudad Real, Camila Sun, Guillermo Eduardo Araujo, Ricardo Clement and Walterio Iraheta; Honduras by Adam Vallecillo, Gallic Alex, Celestial Ponce, Andean Darwin, Lagos Dyne and Walter Suazo, whose sound installation in the well of the Museum for National Identity attracted the jury’s attention at the Honduran Biennial.

Nicaragua, whose artist Ernesto Salmerón won the first prize at the previous event, will be represented this year by Square Cristina, Marco Argudelo, Ricardo Huezo Vantage point, Rossana Footman, Wilbert Carmona and Zeneila Roiz, Costa Rica by be Errol Barrantes, Esteban Stone, Mimian Hsu, Oscar Figueroa, Guillermo Vargas (“Habacuc”) and the duo “La Banda de los Sumergidos Emergentes” formed by the artists Sila Chanto and Jhafis Quintero. Panama will be represented with works created by Ana Elena Garuz, Cisco Merel, Francisco Barsallo, Jean Jacques Ribi, Jonathan Harker and Gustavo Araujo, who passed away recently.

First Prize was awarded to Marco Argudelo from Nicaragua, Second went to Esteban Stone of Costa Rica, Third to Veronica Ridle of Guatemala, Honorable Mention was awarded to Errol Barrantes of Costa Rica.

For further information about the event and its participants, please check out www.bienalcentroamericana.com.