Pinta London celebrates its fifth anniversary in the capital, bringing a taste of vibrant Latin America to Earls Court for four days. Reflecting the increasing demand for Latin American art worldwide, Pinta London offers both experienced collectors and first time buyers the chance to view and purchase work by eminent artists from Latin America, Spain and Portugal.
New for the fair will be the launch of Pinta Photo: the first stand-alone photography feature in Pinta history, set to become an annual showcase at the fair. Curated by writer, broadcaster and curator Sue Steward, Pinta Photo will be dedicated to cutting edge photography from Latin America, featuring exclusive photographs by celebrated British composer Michael Nyman, who now resides in Mexico City. Additional artists will include Tontxi Vazquez and Dafna Talmor.
In the main fair, over 50 leading international galleries will showcase the very best art from Latin America, with highlights including Rainhart Gallery from Brussels, presenting the work of Colombian sculptor Rafael Gómezbarros – best known for his giant ant installation currently on show at the Saatchi Gallery; Ivorypress from Madrid, exhibiting a special solo project by Cuban collective Los Carpinteros; and Graça Brandao from Portugal, who will bring works by renowned Brazilian artist Lygia Pape. New galleries include Galería Oliva Arauna from Madrid – one of the first Spanish galleries to specialise in the commercialisation of photography and video – exhibiting work by filmmaker Alfredo Jaar, who represented Chile at last year’s Venice Biennale; and London’s Halcyon Gallery, exhibiting Fish and Ships by contemporary Colombian artist, Santiago Montoya.
At the heart of the show will be Pinta Projects, honouring the influential women who have made a mark in the perception of Latin American art over the decades, curated by collector and patron Catherine Petitgas and Brazilian curator Kiki Mazzucchelli. This theme will be further explored within the Pinta Auditorium Programme, bringing together leading female curators, dealers and collectors to give an insight into their unique vision and practice. Speakers including collector and patron Valeria Napoleone, and Founder and Director of Dhaka Art Summit Nadia Samdani, will explore whether in this age of globalisation, there is still a need to promote areas of the art world that are under-represented.
Pinta Design will focus on classic and industrial design from Mexico and Brazil, with pieces to look out for including furniture designed by world renowned Brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer; a new series of handcrafted lamps by Mexican designer Valentina Gonzalez Wohlers and the first UK showing of work by Mexican designer Hector Esrawe. Presented by Manuel Díaz Cebrian in partnership with leading Mexican curator Ana Elena Mallet, who recently launched contemporary design show De Ida y Vuelta in Mexico City, and Brazilian collector Raul Schmidt – fresh from curating Brazilian Design: Modern & Contemporary Furniture currently on show at the Embassy of Brazil in London, this section of the show will give visitors the chance to pick-up functional design pieces for the home.
Additional show features across Pinta London will include: The second edition of Pinta Media Art: an innovative showcase of art that explores links with technology. Curated by Rolando J Carmona, this will feature the work of Brazilian artist Eduardo Kac, pioneer of BioArt and telepresence, renowned worldwide for the creation of Alba: a genetically modified “glowing” rabbit
A special homage to abstract art in Spain, titled Black and White in Spanish Geometry from 1950-1970, including works by Enrique Salamanca and José Luis Gómez Perales
A curated show by Nekane Aramburu on behalf of the Embassy of Spain, titled GAUR[sic]. Translated as ‘Today’ in Basque, GAUR will analyse the evolution of video art in Spain, featuring the work of eight artists based in the Basque Country. This showing at Pinta London will mark the launch of an international tour for the exhibition, travelling to Honduras, Costa Rica, Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Nicaragua later this year.
On celebrating Pinta London’s fifth anniversary, Director Alejandro Zaia commented; ‘In recent years London has undoubtedly become one of the leading markets for Latin American art, and we at Pinta London are excited to bring the finest examples of this work to the UK for the fifth year. We offer a unique opportunity within Europe for visitors, collectors, galleries and museums to continue building their knowledge and widening their networks in the Latin American art world, and hope that Pinta’s continued presence in London will further increase awareness and exposure of these significant artists.’
Photo: Alfredo Jaar, ‘Gold in the morning’ 1985. Light box, 51.2 x 74.8 inches. Image courtesy of Galeria Oliva Arauna, Madrid