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The Radical Artistic Expression of Venezuela’s Youth
Below is a selection of works and images by some of the artists affiliated with Cause, Venezuela’s new radical youth culture network. Cause supports and promotes artists in a variety of ways, as well as producing videos and organising events.
As David Segerra, a member of Cause, explained, the birth of the organisation this year “reflects a reality that has come into being in recent years in Venezuela, that is, the rebirth and explosion of culture among the youth. There are a great number of bands, groups of artists, graphic designers, graffiti artists and muralists that are emerging from grassroots communities, from the barrios, which is the nicest thing; and with a lot of impact and success. [Before this rebirth] they had been crushed, silenced, and so the Cause’s mission is to accompany them, to gather them together, and try to make them visible, because this movement hadn’t had enough of a presence through the media and social networks”.
You can read the full interview about Cause, translated by Venezuelanalysis.com, here. For more images by Venezuela’s new generation of radical artists, see the Cause website.
Text by Venezuelanalysis.com
The Communication Army of Liberation are one of the most active artist collectives in Venezuela. They produce many iconic graffiti and mural works on the nation’s walls and urban spaces. This one depicts various figures that make up the fabric of Venezuela’s (and Latin America's) society and heritage. (Ejercito Comunicacional de Liberación)
This eclectic mural reads “poetry in the street”. (Ejercito Comunicacional de Liberación)
Street art lighting up an urban space. (Ejercito Comunicacional de Liberación)
Caracas-born artist Maria Perez seeks to represent the beauty of Venezuela’s indigenous in her work through her alter ego Naji. Her gallery on the Cause website explains, “the femininity [of Naji] is very present, however the image of a submissive women is left aside, instead converting her into a warrior”. (Maria Perez)
Another image by Maria Perez aka Naji. It reads, “My struggle”. (Maria Perez)
Going by the artist name Cienfuegos (a hundred fires), Gustavo grew up in the 23 de Enero barrio of the capital Caracas. He dropped out of studying graphic design to show he learned more on the street, and proved it. He dedicated his time to working in 23 Enero and with friends created the music collective Hip Hop Revolucion.
The Cause website says that in his work on the street “he learned that the most important thing is being a good father, a brother to his friends and an enemy of injustice. It’s easily said, but far from being”. (Cienfuegos)
This piece by Cienfuegos depicts a community emerging out of their barrio in with a self-organised and confident demeanor. (Cienfuegos)
Published on Sep 8th 2012 at 12.35pm
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