Political Expressions and Aesthetic Choices
Buenos Aires - Havana:
Works by Atilio Pernisco and Ivan Abreu
May 6 - July 1, 2006 Opening reception : May 6, 2006, 7-9 pm
A N D L A B 600 Moulton Ave. #303, LA, CA 90031 T. 323-222-2225 www.ANDLAB.com/art Tues-Sat 11 am-5 pm
The politicization of art in twentieth century Latin America remains an important factor as the new century moves
forward. In an effort to explore the vast and diverse landscape of Latin American art ANDLAB presents: Buenos Aires -
Havana: Political Expressions and Aesthetic Choices: Works by Atilio Pernisco and Ivan Abreu. The political, social, and
cultural realities of Atilio Pernisco’s Argentina and Ivan Abreu’s Cuba are worlds apart. The open contemporary society
of Buenos Aires, colored by its dark history of militarism, and the influence of European artistic forms, spurred Atilio
Pernisco to create his own history. His images of generals and politicians comment on the absurdities of state power
unsupported by the masses, and of ideology void of human reason. Pernisco’s history urges a younger generation to look
back at the past in order to understand the roots of their society, and he counters the fear-mongering of contemporary
politicians by clothing their ilk in magical, absurd garments. Havana, in contrast, has been a more closed and politicized
society, with heavy influence from its African heritage in art and culture of the island. This cultural intensity has turned
Ivan Abreu’s reality into an abstract world of forms and textures. They are the forms and textures of an ever present nostalgia
for his decaying city by the sea. Ivan was born in Manhattan, where he lived until the age seven. The next two formative
decades were spent in Havana, followed by his return to the United States. Being from both Cuba and the U.S. automatically
places a person into a politically conflicted state of being. Is it then surprising that this sensitive artist moved
away from this reality towards the textured and magical abstractions of his remembered Havana? It is to these aesthetic
differences that we speak in this exhibition. Contrasts that make the vast Latin world so rich and colorful are found in the
works of Atilio Per nisco and Ivan Abreu. Through the recognition of their individual political voices, and the realization
that their aesthetic choices mirror their life experiences, two seemingly disparate Latin artists find common ground.
ANDLAB shows works by contemporary artists in its gallery. It acts as a forum for the presentation of ideas through its
range of lectures, concerts, and discussions. ANDLAB, in its mission to foster curiosity and knowledge, offers a variety
of educational opportunities and creative developments through its selection of art and design classes and projects. For
additional information and for all inquiries, please contact the exhibit curator Shervin Shahbazi or ANDLAB’s associate
director, Gita Hess at 323-222-2225.