Pablo León de la Barra is the sixth guest curator invited by DRAF to be part of the Curators’ Series, a platform to support independent curators, duos and organisations to develop and deliver thematic exhibitions with newly commissioned works.
Friends of London explores the vibrant and specific context of the Latin American art scene in London in the 60s and 70s. The title of the exhibition is based on a photography series by Argentinean artist David Lamelas, London Friends (1974). Lamelas invited a number of friends to be photographed, thereby creating a remarkable image of the London scene at the time.
Friends of London at DRAF takes its lead from this work and offers the opportunity to engage with a particular social and artistic scene established in London throughout the 60s and 70s. This exhibition focuses on London as an instrumental destination for artists from Latin America, whose work has previously been examined in the context of their native countries, or in relation to contemporaneous North American works. Through the display of artworks, letters, documents, interviews and publishing projects, the exhibition aims to contextualise the incredibly fertile and symbiotic relationship established between these artists, some political exiles, and their new London environment.
Leaving to one side ideas of nationality and regionalism, this exhibition focuses on London as a place of freedom and experimentation that enabled artists to produce radical works that engaged with issues of participation and collaboration, established new relationships with the public space and fostered art as an effective political tool.
Curated by Pablo León de la Barra with Carmen Juliá.
With Diego Barboza, Ulises Carrión, Felipe Ehrenberg, David Lamelas, Leopoldo Maler, Hélio Oiticica, Pablo & Delia, Cecilia Vicuña and additional works by Artists for Democracy, Signals Newsbulletin, Ray Barrie, John Dugger and Clay Perry.
The events programme includes David Lamelas in conversation with Lynda Morris on 22 June 2013 and a tour with David Medalla on 6 July 2013 .
