The Potosí Principle: Colonialism and Art in a 2012 Discussion

On February 8, 2012, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design hosted a talk featuring artists Alice Creischer, Andreas Siekmann, and Max Jorge Hinderer, moderated by Melissa Gronlund from Afterall. Their exhibition, 'The Potosí Principle,' had previously been displayed at several venues, including Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid in Summer 2010, Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin in Winter 2010, and Museo Nacional de Arte and Museo Nacional de Etnografía y Folklore in La Paz in Spring 2011. The show explored the connections between art and wealth during the Spanish colonial period, emphasizing how colonial violence shaped modern European economies, particularly through Potosí's silver mining. This event coincided with the Bicentenario celebrations, reflecting on trade and social issues across regions. The collaboration included Afterall, Iniva, and Central Saint Martins Research, with support from the Goethe Institut.