Alberto Baraya (Bogotá, 1968). Lives and works in Bogotá.
Alberto Baraya is one of the most renowned Colombian artists outside his country, having participated to critical acclaim in the 27th São Paulo Biennial, in 2006, and the 2009 Venice Biennial. His first solo exhibition in Brazil was held at the Nara Roesler gallery, between March and April 2010. Producing his art since the 1990s, his work takes various forms including photography, sculpture, objects and drawings.
In the early days of his career, he would use replicas of emblematic paintings, such as Van Eyck’s works, in ironic self-portraits, or in series like Mitificación artificial de una pintura (Artificial Mythification of a Painting), in which his own figure is registered in various different touristic locations holding a print of some famous painting.
Baraya deals with the duality between nature and artifice in his best known series, Herbarium of Artificial Plants, initially presented as a solo exhibit in the Modern Art Museum of Bogotá, in 2003. With strong political connotations, the series addresses other interests of the Colombian's art, such as challenging scientific reason. This is demonstrated by the artist's decision to create new taxonomical classifications, adding subjective components, discussing identities and incorporating “residual” products from the market, such as artificial plants, flowers and bouquets made in China. The collecting activities of old scientific missions are therefore given a contemporary and rather critical guise.
Alberto Baraya is one of the most renowned Colombian artists outside his country, having participated to critical acclaim in the 27th São Paulo Biennial, in 2006, and the 2009 Venice Biennial. His first solo exhibition in Brazil was held at the Nara Roesler gallery, between March and April 2010. Producing his art since the 1990s, his work takes various forms including photography, sculpture, objects and drawings.
In the early days of his career, he would use replicas of emblematic paintings, such as Van Eyck’s works, in ironic self-portraits, or in series like Mitificación artificial de una pintura (Artificial Mythification of a Painting), in which his own figure is registered in various different touristic locations holding a print of some famous painting.
Baraya deals with the duality between nature and artifice in his best known series, Herbarium of Artificial Plants, initially presented as a solo exhibit in the Modern Art Museum of Bogotá, in 2003. With strong political connotations, the series addresses other interests of the Colombian's art, such as challenging scientific reason. This is demonstrated by the artist's decision to create new taxonomical classifications, adding subjective components, discussing identities and incorporating “residual” products from the market, such as artificial plants, flowers and bouquets made in China. The collecting activities of old scientific missions are therefore given a contemporary and rather critical guise.
