It’s not just the boutique hotel business that’s booming in Cartagena—the city recently celebrated their expanding art scene by launching the first inaugural biennial in Columbia. Held between February and April of this year, the 1st International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Cartagena de Indias housed 16,000 guests in the first weekend alone and featured work created by 137 artists (37 of which are Colombia natives) from 47 countries spread out across exhibition venues and public spaces across the city.
In addition to displaying the works of art, the biennial also incorporated special projects that included an auditory experience by Francois Bucher that juxtaposed nine radio transmissions recorded throughout South America and Nuria Carrasco’s magazine Kalas, a parody of the high-society Colombian magazine Caras. Yoko Ono’s travelling Wish Tree also made an appearance in Cartagena, where over 6,000 wishes were hung from the branches during the two-month-long biennial.
For a more permanent demonstration of Cartagena’s art world, look no further than the city’s growing number of vibrant art galleries. NH Galeria stands out as one of the cities hidden gems, located steps from the city’s historic stone walls. Operated in tandem with New York’s Nohra Haime Gallery, the space offers exhibitions from both local Colombian and international artists that change every two months.
Take a look below at some of the art exhibited at the biennial.
Colombia native Oscar Murillo filled an abandoned house in the historic district with paintings, videos, and objects from his hometown of La Paila
Elias Heim returned to his home of Colombia to display his installation “Gulgolet”
Anna Boghiguian’s installation “A Life. The Agony & Ecstasy for Survival” in Getsemani’s Iglesia de la Trinidad chapel
Carlos Schwartz’ “Laberinto de Luz” was installed in gardens around the perimeter of Cartagena
Ruby Rumie’s “Fragment of Census of Getsemani” installation in NH Galeria
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