Under the title “The inclusion of knowledge. A look beyond art”, the theoretical event of the 15th Havana Biennial began this Monday with the participation of numerous art professionals from various nations.
The director of the National Museum of Fine Arts, the venue for this meeting, Jorge Antonio Fernández, was in charge of the presentation of today's session that developed its work under the title of “The Decolonial turn: a new challenge for art and social sciences”, while the debates were led by Jaime Gómez Triana, Cuban theater critic and researcher.
Among the topics addressed was, What does decolonization mean in the 21st century? An anti-imperialist decolonial look at intersectional imperialism and “pro-imperial decolonials”, led by Puerto Rican Ramón Grosfoguel. Laura Catelli (Argentina) presented the topic: “Decolonial perspectives, artistic circuit and indigenous art” and Daniel Villegas (Spain) spoke about “Artistic practices in the era of algorithmic coloniality”.
There were also virtual conferences such as the one by Catherine Walsh (USA-Ecuador), called “Decolonial praxis: Insurgencies, sowings, cracks”. This theoretical event, considered an important space for the interrelation of knowledge, will be held until the 22nd and will also discuss other topics of great interest such as the one that will address the arts in the Caribbean and education as an exercise in social transformation.
The 15th Havana Biennial will run until February 28th of next year and has the participation of just over 400 national and foreign artists.