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Secret Society Inspires MALBA's 25th Anniversary Exhibition
🇦🇷 Argentina /Culture & Society

Secret Society Inspires MALBA's 25th Anniversary Exhibition

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • The MALBA museum in Buenos Aires is celebrating its 25th anniversary with an exhibition featuring works inspired by the Abakuá secret society.
  • Seven engravings by Cuban artist Belkis Ayón, who explored the Abakuá society, are part of the exhibition, which includes works from Eduardo Costantini's collection.
  • The exhibition, titled "Myth and Disobedience," highlights the value of Ayón's unique artistic heritage and her mastery of colography.

Buenos Aires' MALBA museum is marking its 25th anniversary with a special exhibition that delves into the mysteries of the Abakuá secret society. The show features seven engravings by the late Cuban artist Belkis Ayón, whose work was deeply influenced by this male fraternity that arrived in the Americas with the African slave trade in the 19th century.

These powerful pieces are part of the collection of Eduardo Costantini, the museum's founder. Four of the works were acquired last year through the purchase of the Daros Latinamerica Collection, significantly expanding the museum's holdings. The exhibition, titled "Myth and Disobedience," is curated by Alejandra Aguado, María Amalia García, and Nancy Rojas. It aims to emphasize the unique value of Ayón's artistic legacy.

It is a unique moment, comparable to the inauguration of Malba.

— Eduardo CostantiniReferring to the acquisition of a significant art collection that doubled the museum's legacy.

"This is a very important moment institutionally for MALBA," said María Amalia García, head of the curatorial team. She explained that an intended exhibition in 2024 with the Belkis Ayón Estate was postponed due to logistical issues, making this current show a "second chance." García highlighted Ayón's "very strong projection in the international panorama."

Ayón, born in 1967, tragically died by suicide at age 32. In just a decade, she revolutionized contemporary printmaking. She developed a technical mastery in colography, a printmaking technique using collage on plates. Her work gained international acclaim, including participation in the 1993 Venice Biennale and significant awards at printmaking encounters in Havana, Maastricht, and Puerto Rico. Her art is held in prestigious collections, such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

This is a very important moment institutionally for Malba. In 2024 we wanted to carry out an exhibition together with the Estate of Belkis Ayón, but different types of logistical problems in relation to communication with the island made it impossible. So now we have a second chance.

— María Amalia GarcíaExplaining the significance of the current exhibition and the artist's international standing.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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