UNDERREPRESENTATION AND MISREPRESENTATION OF AFRO VISUAL ARTISTS IN COSTA RICA
FIRST AFRO-COSTA RICAN VISUAL ARTS GATHERING (I EAAV): UNDERREPRESENTATION AND MISREPRESENTATION OF AFRO VISUAL ARTISTS IN COSTA RICA
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019
AT THE JADE MUSEUM - SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
On October 29th, 2019, Atizay proudly hosted its inaugural I Encuentro Afrocostarricense de Artes Visuales (First Afro-Costa Rican Visual Arts Gathering), known as I EAAV, at the Museo Del Jade in Costa Rica. This cultural gathering served as a crucial wake-up call to recognize the underrepresentation of the Afro art community in Costa Rica and to celebrate their profound contributions to the arts.
The event provided an opportunity for attendees to delve into the richness and diversity of Afro-Costa Rican experiences, emphasizing the pressing need to create more inclusive spaces for the Afro community within and beyond the artistic world. Despite the challenges in locating Afro-Costa Rican artists due to this underrepresentation, we were thrilled to collaborate with a talented and diverse group of artists, including Queen Nzinga Maxwell, Naomy Luna Madrigal, Francis Quesada Oses, Whitney Oguilve Solís, Gregory James Willis, and Luguerre Janvier Janvier.
The I EAAV featured a vibrant panel discussion where invited artists shared insights into their techniques, thematic inspirations, and their personal and collective experiences as Black artists. The conversation also tackled institutionalized racism and the misrepresentation of Afro-Costa Rican artists, exploring ways to foster more opportunities for the community within the visual arts.
The evening concluded with an engaging art raffle, encouraging creativity among attendees, followed by a musical performance by Bastard Abroad, blending afro, house, and tribal sounds. This enriching experience allowed guests to continue enjoying the artworks in a lively atmosphere.
Our first EAAV successfully initiated an important dialogue about the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of Afro artists in Costa Rica. It underscored the responsibility of our community to advocate for recognition in both art spaces and broader society, aiming to ensure that Afro artists are empowered to represent themselves authentically and proudly.
“Where Culture, Art & Diversity meet.”