artnexus #86

The topic of the body has been a constant concern in the work of Fernando Arias (Armenia, Colombia, 1963). Initially, it was the body understood as an individual issue connected, among others, with matters of identity and sexuality. Later, this interest gave way to a different set of priorities beyond purely individual circumstances: the social body comprised of collectively vulnerable groups in geographic spaces ravaged by violence. This is the context for Arias’ investigations in the department of Chocó, a region of Colombia made singularly complex by the episodes of Human Rights violations suffered by its population. Using such diverse resources as installations, photographs, and art actions, Arias insists in exploring the human condition. This is why, in works like Humanos Derechos, he focuses on two central aspects: the particular circumstance of individuals involved in wars or situations of conflict in the midst of the intolerance this implies, and, in parallel, the lack of awareness about the basic rights that should be guaranteed for every human being. As the artist asserts: “Humanos Derechos seeks to unveil, to ask individuals to please take off all their coverings and show themselves as they are—put down all those weapons, take off the uniform, and reveal yourself a human being.” Such ignorance of basic human rights, and the power dynamics that steamroll over them, operate beyond the restricted space of Chocó. They reach the most diverse spaces of the world’s geography, where, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or gender, liberties that should be a part of every person’s fundamental rights also go unheeded. 
IVONNE PINI