‘Tools for Utopia’. Selected works from the Daros Latinamerica Collection

The exhibition presented by the Kunstmuseum Bern, curated by Marta Dziewańska, will be on view from October 31, 2020 until March 21, 2021. The title of the exhibition deliberately uses the term of the ‘tool’. It refers to the history of works of art which attempt, in various social and political contexts, to overcome figurative representation and seek space beyond the picture frame in order to become active participants in the reshaping of society. ‘Tools for Utopia’ encompasses, from paintings and sculptures, via installation works to film and photography, a broad spectrum of artistic works. The approximately 200 works play with our perception, invent new languages, or allow us to feel the assault on human bodies, where they are debased and where violence leaves its mark. The exhibition provides a glimpse into the diverse artistic creation of Latin America and the themes that move the continent even today.
“While we consider this chapter of art from a historical perspective, we want to show how artistic movements in Latin America acted as stimuli to the cultural, social and political imagination of that time. We would like to ask what remains of those political ambitions and what they may stand for today.’ Nina Zimmer, Director, Kunstmuseum Bern – Zentrum Paul Klee
The basis of the exhibition consists of works made by artists from countries including Brazil, Venezuela, Uruguay and Argentina between the 1950s and the 1970s. The works were made at a time when many Latin American countries were torn apart by national and international conflicts and governed by corrupt and authoritarian rulers.
The Catalogue with 6 selected manifestoes and 5 contemporary interviews with artists from Latin America complements the exhibition and establishes a connection with the present.