Barriletes de Nuestro Futuro (Kites from Our Future): Juan Rodriguez Sandoval
1 December 2023 - 21 January 2024
Curator:
Artist(s): Juan Rodriguez Sandoval
Location: The Atrium
This exhibition takes form as an artist-led community project, celebrating the profound and rich Guatemalan tradition of kite making.
Inspired by the exuberant Day of the Dead festivities in Sumpango, Saquatepequez, where kites dance in colourful splendour, this exhibition pays homage to the folklore and artistry of kite crafting, rooted in eco-centric principles using salvaged and recycled materials.
These kites transcend the physical realm, serving as vessels of liberation and resistance against colonial influences imposed upon Guatemalan society. They boldly voice opposition to the corruption within the Guatemalan government and celebrate Indigenous practice, while also forging a profound connection to ancestral spirits, guiding them on their journey to the afterlife.
Each kite is a testament to post-colonial resilience, safeguarding a timeless and prolific tradition, and standing as a symbol of enduring cultural heritage.
The project also aspires to challenge and reshape Australian curriculum by reimagining the role of kite making in fostering community bonds and advocating for social change. In the spirit of unity and cultural exchange, artist Juan Rodriguez Sandoval invites the community of Moonee Valley and beyond to consider the art of kite making and the joy of launching these creations through the skies of Wurundjeri Country.
The opening night will be held on Friday, 1 December, from 6pm at Incinerator Gallery alongside exhibitions If the earth is not curvature, our eastern tune would have collided with yours: Siying Zhou, Fireworks 2023, and Bright Sparks 2023.
Juan Rodriguez Sandoval (he/him) is a Guatemalan-born, Latin-Australian interdisciplinary environmental artist respectfully working and based in Brayakaulung country, South-East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia).
His practice currently sits on the premise of social practice and imaginative world-building as a cultural intervention to both explore and expose the issues faced by displaced people, borders, movements, and a focus on environmental sovereignty.
Juan primarily works with earthly, bio-organic matter, and found materials, which he believes are living organisms with unique properties of geographic and historical significance. He values material sovereignty, as it impacts the temporality and lifespan of his practice. He believes in sustainable approaches to art-making and recycles/up-cycles materials through contemporary technologies to create a consensus and reflective experience that reminds the spectator about ecological awareness, culture, and sustainable approaches to art-making.
Kite making workshop
Thursday, 18 January, 11am-2pm
In the spirit of unity and cultural exchange, join artist Juan Rodriguez Sandoval in a day of traditional kite making.
This family-friendly workshop invites participants to use recycled materials to create their very own kite and to launch these creations through the skies of Wurundjeri Country.