43rd Salón Nacional de Artistas in Medellín features Colombian talent alongside international artists

The 43rd Salón (inter) Nacional de Artistas, one of Colombia's oldest biennials, took place in Medellín in 2013. This edition marked a departure from its historical focus on regional talent by including international artists like Kader Attia, Jeremy Deller, Karin Sander, and Ernesto Neto alongside Colombian participants. Neto's installation Lanavemadremonte (2013) served as the centerpiece at the Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín, featuring a walk-through Lycra structure. Attia presented a slideshow of African record covers, while Sander displayed mailed canvases and a polished wall piece. Colombian artist Kevin Simón Mancera created Felix Gonzalez-Torres-style giveaway posters with lithographs stacked at the Museo de Antioquia. Jean-François Boclé from Martinique filled a room with plastic bags in Todo debe Desaparecer! (2013). César del Valle presented charcoal drawings, sculptures, and photographs with abstract circular motifs, alongside a table of charcoal-coated books accumulating visitor fingerprints. The event attracted numerous local families, indicating its significance within Colombia. The article was published in November 2013 by ArtReview.