Cristián Silva: Ornithology, Cecilia Brunson Projects

Chilean artist Christián Silva looks into the life through the life of birds, at Latin American curator, Cecilia Brunson's eponymous space

The Back Story…

In recent years, Latin American art has enjoyed a growing popularity in the global art world. Take for example, in London, Tate’s recent show of Brazilian artist Mira Schendel and the Royal Academy’s upcoming exhibition Radical Geometry on modern LatAm art. A notable proponent of this art is the Chilean curator Cecilia Brunson. Her recently launched eponymous gallery showcases genuinely innovative LatAm work, and artists from other regions. 

The Exhbition…

A must see is the gallery’s upcoming exhibition of the acclaimed Chilean artist Christián Silva. The show marks Silva’s return to London, almost 20 years after his participation in the Delfina Foundation’s exhibition From Left to Right. Silva’s practice encompasses an impressive array of topics and concepts. He effortlessly weaves personal biography with more universal themes, imbuing his work with warm humour and cool intellect, enigma and simplicity. 

With works spanning over 20 years, the show brings together photographs, drawings, sculpture and videos that sit within the rubric of ornithology. But don’t be fooled by the title, birds are merely a veneer into a much wider realm of ideas, one that will pique your interest on both an aesthetic and intellectual level. As Silva explains: “I address the notion of individual and collective flight, territory, migration, alchemy, heraldry, folklore, social conflict and politics all through a common axis of multiple media and symbolic references.” 

We particularly admired the wit and simplicity of Aguila y paloma, a lamda print depicting a grubby pigeon nestled underneath a wall frieze of a regal looking bird, and the tantalisingly cryptic wall sculpture Media docena de huevos de kollonka (cero absoluto), made of egg shells and the artist’s hair. 

Ornithology is a show that will stimulate your curiosity. Even art lovers inured to the questioning nature of contemporary art will not fail to be moved.