A look at Latin-American politics and culture through art will be the focus of the third Festival of Ideas event this month.
Dr. Patrick Frank, an independent scholar, will present “Destroying the Figure in Order to Save It: Sixties Art in Argentina” at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday in Room 148 of the Fine Arts building.
Frank, author of several books on the topic, will discuss his recent investigation into the New Figuration Movement, and the work of little-known Latin-American artists which played a major role in the neo-expressionist figuration in Europe and the U.S. during the 1980s.
The event is sponsored by the Department of Art + Art History, the Center for Mexican-American Studies and the Festival of Ideas Global Research Institute. The Festival of Ideas 2009-2010 season is underwritten by a gift from UT Arlington alumnus Mustaque Ahmed.
The lecture will be held in conjunction with a scheduled print residency in Buenos Aires for several art students during the winter term. The students, led by assistant professor Michelle Murillo, will be asked to immerse themselves into the Argentine culture and create work that is informed and inspired by what they experience. Murillo previously held an artist residency in the South American city, and said making the trip outside of the U.S. will be inspirational for her students.
“I encourage my students to think globally and to address the current issues,” Murillo said. “I think it’s important to have social concerns represented, and to create work that has purpose and meaning beyond making art for aesthetics.”
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