During August and September we presented the exhibition Sacred Dances, produced by the Australian photographer Emmanuel Santos (Born in Philippines). He will be completing a residency within the ´acePIRAR program (International Program of Artistic Residences) during the month of August, producing a series of new photographs in Buenos Aires.

SACRED DANCES (by Alicia Candiani)

In the vast series Sacred Dances -which the artist exhibited in the Sala Políglota of the ´ace house- the humanitarian and universal attitude with which Santos has witnessed and captured (and has been allowed to do) a sacred ceremony of the Aurukun community from Cape York, Queensland in Australia is clearly manifested.

“Without dreams of hope, dignity and pride, Humanity vanishes” says one of the songs of this ceremony that expresses the deep and diverse wealth of a culture that flourished for more than 50,000 years. The Aukurum suffered continual desecration through carelessness and insensitivity in today’s world. However, in their own way, they survived, and their sacred dances express their ancient wisdom and passion for protecting and preserving it.

ARTIST’S TESTIMONY

Aboriginal genesis.

“Without dreams of hope, dignity and pride, humanity fades away …”

This phrase from a song by Australian Aborigines expresses the eternal richness of a culture that flourished for over 50,000 years. This culture, deep and diverse culture has suffered a continuous desecration through carelessness and lack of sensitivity of the current world … however, in their own way, they survived.

Their sacred dances allow us, from our time, to penetrate through a resonance in a dreamed time, a dim light in the darkness that the tribe preserves. It is one of the aspects of their ancient wisdom that they protect and bring to the present in ways that our world can understand and respect.

I am honored to have witnessed these universal rites of life and to have been able to photograph a mere glimpse of them, in order to share with you this experience and in certain way, promote greater awareness for the good of humanity.

Territories is an exhibition curated by Adriana Moracci among artworks from the ‘ace collection. The aims of this selection is to allow us to reflect upon political, economic, linguistic and corporal territories. They have been interpreted by contemporary artists through photography, performance and printmaking.

ABOUT TERRITORIES (by Adriana Moracci

Territory is a defined, outlined and demarcated place that provides belonging and identity to whom occupy it. In some cases it is a place to access or emigrate. The territory notion goes beyond a determined border. Although the etymology of the word indicates land or field not every community has its own physical territory, but yes, all have their own idiosyncrasy, language and culture that unites and links. The body is also a territory, one that is always present and constantly changing. A territory that contains and links us with the other, through verbal and corporal language. A territory that enables encounter with the ancestral and the primary.