Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980

Hayward Gallery, 18 May – 6 August 1989

Installation view: Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery, 1989. Photo: John Webb (1989) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

Latin American Art ‘From Independence to the Present Day’

Art in Latin America was curated by the art historian Dawn Ades, with assistance from art critic and curator Guy Brett and an international committee of artists and historians. The exhibition included more than 400 works by over 170 artists from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, and was the first in Europe to examine the history and development of Latin American art from the time of Independence. 

Installation view: Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery, 1989. Photo: John Webb (1989) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

A Historic and Thematic Display 

Art in Latin America brought together painting, sculpture, photography, graphic design, architecture and anthropological material. The exhibition was arranged both historically and thematically. Entering into a display of 19th-century portraiture, visitors proceeded through the century until they encountered the work of Latin American modernists – not least Lygia Clark, Lucio Fontana and Hélio Oiticica – in a section of the exhibition curated by Guy Brett. 

Installation view: Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery, 1989. Photo: John Webb (1989) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

Installation View: Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery, 1989. Photo: John Webb (1989) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

Installation view: Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery, 1989. Photo: John Webb (1989) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

Installation view: Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery, 1989. Photo: John Webb (1989) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

Installation view: Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery, 1989. Photo: John Webb (1989) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

Early Exhibition Outline for Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery Early Exhibition Outline for Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery (1989) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

Early exhibition outline for Art in Latin America.

Preliminary Installation Plans for Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery (1989) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

Preliminary installation plans for Art in Latin America.

Exhibition Guide for Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery Exhibition Guide for Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery (1989) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

Exhibition guide for Art in Latin America.

List of Works in Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery List of Works in Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery (1989) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

List of works in Art in Latin America.

Installation view: Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery, 1989. Photo: John Webb (1989) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

Press and Audience Response

The exhibition, which was part of a larger programme of events across the Southbank Centre celebrating Latin America, received 46,725 visitors. Many of the reviews focused on the scope of the exhibition. Andrew Graham-Dixon, writing for The Independent, summarised its reach as: ‘from Aztex to high-tec in three tight-packed floors of breezeblock South Bank architecture.’

Press Cutting for Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery (1989) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

Press cutting for Art in Latin America.

Press Cutting for Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980, Hayward Gallery (1989) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

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