artnexus #42

The arrival of the twenty-first century brought great expectations. Although the possibility for chaotic situations existed, since the entire mechanism that worked with scientific and electronic advances could have been paralyzed, ultimately there were many celebrations with no great shocks. However, on 11 September 2001, the catastrophic attacks on New York's twin towers and the Pentagon in Washington, which took the world by surprise, produced a feeling of vulnerability and panic.

At that moment I recalled others equally difficult, ones that we have experienced through living and working in Colombia. How could an art magazine be published within a climate of adversity? I have given close thought to this many times and I have come to the conclusion that I must continue to do what I have always done and to strive to make it even better. And today in the face of the possibility of a world crisis, I assume the same way of thinking.

For the first time in twenty-five years the magazine's cover will not be dedicated to an artist, but rather to our Internet project. Over the last year we have worked against the tide. We have seen Internet companies succumb, but we are convinced as I was twenty-five years ago, when people predicted that an art magazine in Latin America had no chance for survival, that the Internet will give us a new and broader form of communication.

Over the years I have seen how artists in Latin America or of Latin American origin, have gone from being unknown to becoming important paradigms within the art world. In many cases, our publication has contributed to this. Knowing the circulation difficulties of publications, especially in Latin America, I am convinced that ArtNexus.com will contribute to the development of this complex and fascinating world.

CELIA SREDNI DE BIRBRAGHER