Da adversidade vivemos: Latin American Art as Political Resistance at Musée d'Art Moderne

Curated by Carlos Basualdo, the exhibition 'Da adversidade vivemos' at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (June 1–September 30, 2001) explores Latin American art through the lens of adversity. The title, borrowed from Hélio Oiticica's 1967 phrase, reflects the political and economic hardships faced by artists in the region, including dictatorships and poverty. Basualdo, an associate curator for Documenta XI, selected 14 artists—half historical, half emerging—whose works engage with ethics, politics, and activism. The show opens with Oiticica's monumental 'Eden' (1969), a participatory environment using materials like straw and wood, originally shown at Whitechapel Gallery. Other works address corruption, drug trafficking, and urban violence (Juan Fernando Herrán, Wilson Díaz, José Antonio Hernández-Diez). Cristián Silva's model of Santiago's stadium references Pinochet's 1973 coup. Cildo Meireles's 'Desvio para o Vermelho' (1967–1984) evokes torture through a red room. The Colectivo Cambalache promotes barter economies, while Mejor Vida Corp. critiques corporations like Disney and McDonald's. The accompanying catalog features historical manifestos.