Cecilia Vicuña Reflects on 1968's Global Movements and Their Contemporary Echoes

In 1968, Cecilia Vicuña remembers her art studies in Chile during a time of university occupations advocating for reform. Her generation was influenced by the U.S. civil rights movement and protests against the Vietnam War, with Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination hitting close to home. The events of 1968 in Paris had a worldwide impact, encapsulated by the phrase 'Power to the Imagination,' which embodied shared aspirations. Vicuña characterizes the 1960s as a spontaneous uprising against racism, materialism, and militarism, seeking love, joy, and justice, with participatory decision-making enhancing the spirit of rallies. This unrest catalyzed political shifts, notably in Chile in 1970. Contemporary movements like #Occupy and #BlackLivesMatter prompt reflections on coalition-building. Vicuña's insights on past revolts and their significance for today's struggles were published in ArtReview in May 2018.