Feliciano Centurión
I am Awake: 1992 - 1996
Feliciano CENTURIÓN
Estoy vivo [I am Alive], 1994
Courtesy of Cecilia Brunson Projects
The first ever UK solo presentation of the celebrated Paraguayan artist Feliciano Centurión, I Am Awake: 1992-1996, is currently on view at Cecilia Brunson Projects, the Bermondsey-based gallery that champions Latin American artists.
As one enters the gallery flooded with natural light, the viewer encounters a joyous array of embroidered blankets, paper plates painted with animals alongside dinosaur and zebra figures dressed in beautifully crocheted cardigans and a moving documentary about the artist.
Raised largely by his mother and grandmother, Feliciano Centurión (1962-1996) developed an attraction to crochet and lacemaking from an early age. His family were exiled to Argentina and in the 1980’s Centurión moved to Buenos Aires to pursue and study art. He became a prominent figure in the progressive ‘Arte Light’ movement which was linked to the Ricardo Rojas Cultural Center. Artists working within this movement were irreverent, flamboyant and embodied liberal attitudes towards lifestyles and sexuality. They often used household objects such as toys, blankets, pillowcases and created more playful works, which can be seen as a response to the fall of right-wing dictatorships across Latin America, and challenging the dour status quo.
Raised largely by his mother and grandmother, Feliciano Centurión (1962-1996) developed an attraction to crochet and lacemaking from an early age. His family were exiled to Argentina and in the 1980’s Centurión moved to Buenos Aires to pursue and study art. He became a prominent figure in the progressive ‘Arte Light’ movement which was linked to the Ricardo Rojas Cultural Center. Artists working within this movement were irreverent, flamboyant and embodied liberal attitudes towards lifestyles and sexuality. They often used household objects such as toys, blankets, pillowcases and created more playful works, which can be seen as a response to the fall of right-wing dictatorships across Latin America, and challenging the dour status quo.
Installation views of Feliciano Centurión, I Am Awake: 1992-1996 at Cecilia Brunson Projects in London. Photo by Eva Herzog
I Am Awake: 1992-1996 sees works created in the last four years of the artist’s life along with some works never publicly shown since Feliciano’s death at the young age of 34 due to complications of AIDS. Centurion created a series of frazadas, or blankets, which were small in size but adorned with phrases to help him cope with his illness. These mantras were taken from poems dear to his heart including Liliana Maresca’s ‘El amore es el perfume de la flor’ (‘Love is the fragrance of a flower’) and Alina Tortosa’s ‘La muerte es parte intermittente de mis días’ (‘Death is a recurring part of my life’). He boxed these works up and gave them to his sisters saying that when the time comes in the future to let these out into the world.
Feliciano CENTURIÓN
Ave del Paraiso Florecido, c. 1995
Courtesy of Cecilia Brunson Projects
Ave del Paraiso Florecido, c. 1995
Courtesy of Cecilia Brunson Projects
Installation views of Feliciano Centurión, I Am Awake: 1992-1996 at Cecilia Brunson Projects in London. Photo by Eva Herzog
It wasn’t until Cecilia Brunson visited his sisters that they told her about these small blankets. When the box was first opened, the blanket on top had an embroidered phrase of ‘estoy vivo’ or ‘I am alive,’ which inspired the show’s title. These frazadas are publicly shown for the first time in this exhibition. It is moving that despite the knowledge of his looming death Centurión’s work retains whismy and humour, showing us that beauty and light can exist even in the darkest of times.
Says Gallery Founder and Director, Cecilia Brunson: ‘Highly codified and drawing on the art forms of his native Paraguay, Feliciano Centurión’s work exudes spirit, bravery and light, and its aesthetic power is further enhanced when contextualized with the oppressive regimes he was compelled to live and work under and quietly against throughout his life. The gallery is delighted and honoured to present this landmark show and in doing so to pay tribute to Centurión and satisfy the growing interest in his work both in Latin America – he was one of twelves individual artist shows highlighted in the 33rd Bienal de Sao Paulo in 2018 – as well as in Europe.’
The exhibition is completed by a documentary film with interviews of Feliciano’s friends, family and artist colleagues which gives immense insight into his personal life and work. One can’t not be touched by this kind natured, effervescent spirit.
Says Gallery Founder and Director, Cecilia Brunson: ‘Highly codified and drawing on the art forms of his native Paraguay, Feliciano Centurión’s work exudes spirit, bravery and light, and its aesthetic power is further enhanced when contextualized with the oppressive regimes he was compelled to live and work under and quietly against throughout his life. The gallery is delighted and honoured to present this landmark show and in doing so to pay tribute to Centurión and satisfy the growing interest in his work both in Latin America – he was one of twelves individual artist shows highlighted in the 33rd Bienal de Sao Paulo in 2018 – as well as in Europe.’
The exhibition is completed by a documentary film with interviews of Feliciano’s friends, family and artist colleagues which gives immense insight into his personal life and work. One can’t not be touched by this kind natured, effervescent spirit.
Feliciano CENTURIÓN
Untitled (Birds), 1990s
Courtesy of Cecilia Brunson Projects
Untitled (Birds), 1990s
Courtesy of Cecilia Brunson Projects
Installation views of Feliciano Centurión, I Am Awake: 1992-1996 at Cecilia Brunson Projects in London. Photo by Eva Herzog
Feliciano CENTURIÓN
Caíman, c. 1995
Courtesy of Cecilia Brunson Projects
Caíman, c. 1995
Courtesy of Cecilia Brunson Projects
Installation views of Feliciano Centurión, I Am Awake: 1992-1996 at Cecilia Brunson Projects in London. Photo by Eva Herzog
Text by Rachel Leonard
Bio
Feliciano Centurión was born in San Ignacio de las Misiones, Paraguay, on March 20, 1962. By 1970 his family settled in Alberdi, Ñeembucu, on the border with Argentina. Under the dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner, Feliciano and his family were forced into exile to Argentina in 1973. In Formo- sa, Argentina, Centurión had a formal art education at the Oscar R. Albertozzi School of Fine Arts. In 1980, Centurion moved to Buenos Aires, attending the Pridiliano Pueyrredón School of Fine Arts and at the Ernesto de la Cárcova Superior School of Fine Arts. He participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions, both in Asuncion, Paraguay, and in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as part of the group of artists linked to the Gallery of the Cultural Centre Ricardo Rojas (dependent of the University of Buenos Aires). He participated in the Fifth Biennial of Cuba (1992), and travelled to exhibit at the Maison de L’Amerique Latine in France. He died in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on November 7, 1996.
About Cecilia Brunson Projects
Founded in 2013, Cecilia Brunson Projects (CBP) is based in Bermondsey, London. The gallery exclusively specialises in historical and contemporary Latin American art. CBP’s objective is to provide a European platform that champions and celebrates Latin American artists —including those living and working abroad – through a yearly exhibition programme at its central location near Bermondsey Street. Active on both the primary and secondary market, CBP has established a reputation for introducing London audiences to some of the major figures of Modern and Contemporary Latin American art, including Alfredo Volpi, Coco Fusco, Waltercio Caldas and Willys de Castro. Additionally, the gallery is dedicated to preserving and supporting artist estates, including Victor Magariños D. and Feliciano Centurión. Through having been the Associate Cura- tor of Latin American Art at the Blanton Museum in Austin, Texas, and the Latin American Corre- spondent for Artforum, Cecilia acts as a consultant to major museums and public institutions and advises private and corporate collections.