BERNARDO MEDINA'S JÍBARO POP AND BORICUA IDENTITY AT CASA DE AMÉRICA

Tengo un coco contigo is the title under which Bernardo Medina (San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1965) presents at Casa de América his critical reflection on the complexity and ambivalence that characterize the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico. Borrowed from a popular Boricua expression referring to a persistent, unresolved obsession, the title encapsulates the exhibition's central premise, synthesizing the historical, political, and cultural tensions that have shaped Puerto Rican identity.

Through a visual language rich in symbolism, Medina provides viewers with the means to question notions of belonging, dependency, and identity—concepts that have long been central to the island's social and historical development. Working within what has been described as jíbaro pop or Caribbean pop, the artist combines references drawn from the popular cultures of both Puerto Rico and the United States with a sharp social and political critique.

The works are distinguished by their use of familiar iconography and the shared colors of the island and American flags, a visual coincidence that Medina employs to underscore both the connections and the contrasts between the two nations. Among the most prominent pieces are bananas, elevated as symbols of Puerto Rican culture and identity, alongside a Caribbean reinterpretation of Andy Warhol's iconic Campbell's Soup cans, appropriated to reflect on the influence of American consumer culture.

Also featured are the traditional caballitos de pícaro, whose playful character evokes Puerto Rico's popular traditions and cultural roots. Taken as a whole, the exhibition offers a visual journey that moves between humor, irony, and collective memory. While celebrating the richness of Boricuaculture, Tengo un coco contigo ultimately encourages viewers to reflect on the dynamics of power, influence, identity, and colonialism that continue to shape the island's contemporary reality.

Bernardo Medina: Tengo un coco contigo is on view through 30 September 2026 at Casa de América, Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid (Spain).