KADER ATTIA AT THE MAMBO
The Museum of Modern Art of Bogota (MAMBO) presents ReparaRenacer (RepairReborn), the first institutional exhibition in Colombia by Franco-Algerian artist Kader Attia. This exhibition highlights Attia’s work around the concept of repair, a central theme in his art that explores both physical and mental repair through various artistic techniques.
Kader Attia has dedicated his career to investigating the effects of historical and cultural trauma stemming from colonialism and its impact on non-Western societies. His research on repair is manifested through videos, installations, sculptures, collage, and photography, aiming to create a space for dialogue about collective trauma, particularly that of Colombian society. Through his art, Attia approaches repair as a transformative process, in which scars and wounds are not signs of weakness, but symbols of resilience and the capacity to confront trauma.
One of the most significant pieces in the exhibition, curated by Eugenio Viola, is On Silence (2021), a work created using prosthetic limbs—both upper and lower limbs—previously worn by others, which takes on particular relevance in the context of Colombia’s history, marked by landmine victims. This piece becomes a testimony to the healing power of art, as well as a manifesto of Attia's practice, as suggested by the title of the exhibition, ReparaRenacer.
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Vista de la exposición ReparaRenace. Fotografía de Gregorio Díaz. Cortesía del Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá – MAMBO.
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Vista de la exposición ReparaRenace. Fotografía de Gregorio Díaz. Cortesía del Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá – MAMBO.
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Vista de la exposición ReparaRenace. Fotografía de Gregorio Díaz. Cortesía del Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá – MAMBO.
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Vista de la exposición ReparaRenace. Fotografía de Gregorio Díaz. Cortesía del Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá – MAMBO.
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Vista de la exposición ReparaRenace. Fotografía de Gregorio Díaz. Cortesía del Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá – MAMBO.
The exhibition not only illustrates the depth of the artist’s research but also shows how art can be a fundamental tool for the repair of historical and personal wounds. In his vision, the wound should not be hidden but recognized as an essential part of the healing and transformation process.
Kader Attia was born in 1970 in France and grew up between Paris and Algeria. After spending time in the Congo and South America, he was inspired by the legacies of colonialism and the effects of historical trauma on colonized societies. He studied at the École Supérieure des Arts Appliqués de Duperré, the École Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and the Escola Massana in Barcelona. His work has been recognized worldwide, with exhibitions at institutions such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Tate Modern in London, MoMA in New York, and the Venice Biennale. In 2016, Attia founded La Colonie, a space for dialogue about decolonization. He has received awards such as the Marcel Duchamp Prize and the Fundación Miró Prize, establishing himself as a key figure in contemporary art.
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