¿Buscando visa para naufragar? / Looking for a Visa to Shipwreck?

Featuring works from Library Permanent Art Collection, curated by homework

Enjoy a selection from Library Permanent Art Collection curated by homework, a contemporary art gallery. This exhibit brings together a powerful mix of immigrant artists whose work carries both the rich cultural heritage of their homelands as well as their struggle to find themselves in a foreign land. A question lingers throughout their works: Have I taken this journey just to end up shipwrecked? For more information, please contact the library at 305-553-1134 or gonzalezja@mdpls.org. All ages.

This exhibition brings together a powerful mix of distinct voices from the vast collection of artworks by immigrant artists from the Americas, housed within the Miami-Dade Public Library System. These artists embarked on the long and arduous journey to make the United States their home. Each of the works presented carry not only the rich cultural heritage of their makers' homelands but also hold deep personal stories of what it means to leave everything behind in search of a better life.
The experience of moving to the United States is marked by both excitement and hardship for artists from Latin America and the Caribbean. There is an assumed promise of new and better opportunities, yet the weight of displacement—the struggle to find oneself in a foreign land, where the language, customs and even the art world can feel completely alien—can be overwhelmingly difficult.
A question that often looms in the back of these artists' minds is, "Have I taken this journey just to end up shipwrecked?"
The journey is more than just a physical migration; it is a transformation of identity. Artists wrestle with the challenges of being seen and heard in this new environment, while trying to maintain a connection to their homeland. They exist in a liminal space between the familiar and the unknown; a space that becomes fertile ground for their visionary output. It is precisely this tension between worlds that drives their creative energy.
Many of the works on display reflect the duality these artists face - a longing for home while navigating a new and often harsh reality. Some pieces explore the pain of leaving family behind, while others reflect on the challenge of trying to stay true to one's cultural roots in a country that sometimes expects complete assimilation. This expectation of assimilation is not only unrealistic but is tainted by ambiguity that becomes impossible to fathom.
Through their art, these artists create a bridge between their native countries and their newly adopted homes. They explore the nuanced perspectives of what it means to live between two worlds, weaving together their personal histories with the experience of American life. The result is a dynamic interaction of artistic expression that challenges the boundaries of nationality and ethnicity with the desire of belonging.
About homework:
homework is a contemporary art gallery known for its innovative approach to curation, utilizing experimental art spaces to temporarily host thought-provoking exhibitions that challenge traditional views on art and the art world.
Imagined by Aurelio Aguiló and Mayra Mejia, homework provides a platform for a variety of artists to showcase their work and engage with a global audience. The exhibitions, carefully curated by the in-house team, stimulate intellectual discourse and critical analysis. At times, they are interactive and multidisciplinary in nature, often featuring a combination of works from both established and emerging artists.
homework's mission is to expand the art world and create an inclusive, accessible platform for communities to engage with contemporary art and culture from around the world. Its cutting-edge approach to the traditional art world has given critical exposure to an array of talented artists during key art world events, allowing them to thrive in the current art climate. homework aims to engage viewers on multiple levels, inspiring creative thought, encouraging dialogue and discourse wherever they go.
For more information, please visit their website www.homework.gallery or follow them on their social media platforms @homework.gallery.

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