Daniela Ortiz on Art as Political Pedagogy and International Solidarity
Peruvian artist Daniela Ortiz discusses her shift away from institutionalized art toward accessible, politically engaged practices. In an interview with Noushin Afzali for América Latina magazine, Ortiz argues that censorship in the art world is a concrete mechanism of political persecution, not an abstract moral problem. She critiques liberal frameworks of 'freedom of expression' as shields for colonial and imperialist ideologies. Ortiz grounds her work in historical international struggles, citing the Cuban Revolution, independence of Angola and Mozambique, and the US defeat in Vietnam as concrete victories of internationalist traditions. She embraces manual and accessible media—ceramics, collage, children's books—to elevate consciousness. Her painting 'The Rebellion of the Roots' (2022) addresses Filipino resistance to Spanish colonialism. In puppet performances, she insists on working in local languages, describing the process as 'political translation.' Ortiz calls for reclaiming public cultural institutions as tools for organization and liberation, arguing they belong to migrant workers, the working class, and the Global South. Her exhibition 'A Drop of Milk' was at Kunsthalle Bern, Switzerland, until February 8, 2026.
Key facts
- Daniela Ortiz is a Peruvian artist who shifted her practice from institutionalization toward accessibility.
- She views art as active political pedagogy and grounds her work in historical international struggles.
- Ortiz argues that liberal 'freedom of expression' has been mobilized to normalize racism, Islamophobia, and colonial violence.
- She describes censorship as a concrete mechanism of political persecution including exclusion from institutions, loss of work opportunities, media harassment, and legal prosecution.
- Ortiz insists on recovering internationalist traditions that produced victories like the Cuban Revolution, independence of Angola and Mozambique, and US defeat in Vietnam.
- She uses accessible media such as ceramics, collage, and children's books.
- Her painting 'The Rebellion of the Roots' (2022) depicts Filipino resistance to Spanish colonialism.
- In puppet performances, she works in local languages, practicing 'political translation.'
- Ortiz calls for reclaiming public cultural institutions as tools for organization and liberation.
- Her exhibition 'A Drop of Milk' was at Kunsthalle Bern, Switzerland, until February 8, 2026.
- The interview was conducted by Noushin Afzali for América Latina magazine.
- Ortiz expresses solidarity with Palestine as structural rather than symbolic.
- She cites artists Mohammed El-Kurd, Taring Padi, and Tings Chak as practitioners of anti-imperialist art.
Entities
Artists
- Daniela Ortiz
- Mohammed El-Kurd
- Tings Chak
Institutions
- Kunsthalle Bern
- Kunsthalle Zürich
- América Latina
- Contemporary And (C&)
Locations
- Peru
- Europe
- Philippines
- Belgrade
- Serbia
- Switzerland
- United States
- Cuba
- Angola
- Mozambique
- Vietnam
- Iran
- Palestine
- South America
- Berlin
- Germany