About events and their actors...

The magazine is reaching its 15th issue with a vast assortment of critical comments, notes and reviews on major events that have taken place this year in the region and around the world, and that will continue to shed light on artistic, curatorial and market trends. Some of those highlight gatherings are the Havana Biennale, whose 11th edition –it came to a close a few months ago- clearly indicates its coming of age and tight grip on the global scene; the most anticipated event of all, the 13th edition of the Kassel (d)OCUMENTA; and the San Juan Polygraphic Triennial. All of them continue to churn out debates and controversies as far as the participation of celebrated and emerging artists is concerned, as well as their organization, goals and presentations.

In the same breath, contemporary art collection –seen through the exhaustive review of some of the fairs held in recent months around the world- is also contained herein. Art Basel in its Switzerland headquarters, ArteBA in the city of Buenos Aires and SWAB in Barcelona, reveal the fascinating and nonstop mutation process endured today by these events in an effort to stay in sync with others that seemed to be out of touch and off the wall, in a bid to remain up to par with these new times and perspectives.

Several Latin American artists who attended the Havana Biennale are scoured in these pages through writings and interviews: Florencio Gelabert, Marxz Rosado and Natalya Critchley, together with American Andres Serrano. The list also includes Argentina’s Marcos Lopez, an outstanding photographer who’s clinging to his own esthetics with maturity as he sets out on new courses. Latin America’s public sculpturing is appraised from both a historical and current perspective, and so is Brazilian architecture. And from a contemporary standpoint, the importance of that significant movement called The New Figuration is also reviewed.

Last but not least, we have published comments on two recently published books: a compilation by several authors on curatorship and Caribbean art, and the first volume penned by a young Cuban critic.

Jose Carlos de Santiago/ Publisher and Editor-in-Chief