20.05.2017 – 06.08.2017 /
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas Street West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Installation
As If Sand Were Stone: Contemporary Latin American Art from the AGO Collection
For the first time ever, the AGO presents its extensive collection of Latin American contemporary art as the focus of its own exhibition. The artists, originating from Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Chile, Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela, are each influenced by the specific geographic, political and social contexts and artistic legacies of their respective countries. Brought together, these artists’ works provoke visitors to reflect upon issues of time, place and identity and to question issues of belonging, precarity and transience.
The AGO’s collection of Latin American Contemporary art has been acquired through purchase as well as corporate and private donations. Brascan Limited made a substantial gift in the 1970s, and the Volunteer Committee contributed acquisition funds in the 1990s. Today this tradition is being continued by the Sherritt International Corporation and The New Group.
Sherritt International Corporation has worked closely with the AGO to acquire contemporary art by Cuban artists, and as such contributed to building the largest museum collection of Cuban art in Canada. This exhibition marks the tremendous gift of the Sherritt Collection to the AGO, and includes works by Los Carpinteros, Carlos Garaicoa, Glenda Leon, Tania Bruguera and Wilfredo Prieto, all of which will be on view.