Interview: Casa Jaguar
Luca Curci talks with Casa Jaguar Studio during FUTURE LANDSCAPES, third appointment of BORDERS ART FAIR 2021, at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space.

Casa Jaguar is a contemporary multidisciplinary arts studio based in Barcelona. They seek to celebrate the history and diversity of Latinamerica through contemporary art, audiovisual technology and pre-columbian art. The objective of Casa Jaguar studio is to showcase their love for Latinamerica’s art history as well as its peoples and landscapes.

LUCA CURCI – What is art for you?
CASA JAGUAR STUDIO – For us, art is the most accessible way to share a message, in our case, that message is sharing our love for the richness, art history, peoples and landscapes of Latinamerica.

LC – How did you get to your current artistic practice?
CGS – After nine years of taking classes in different techniques, Ivonne Portillo, our plastic artist became very interested in xylography and the use of land art to create abstract landscapes to honor the geographical diversity and richness of the Latinamerican continent. We wanted to honor the peoples who safeguard these landscapes and decided to collaborate on a documentary with indigenous communities in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a mountain that rises at 5,000 meters above sea level on the Caribbean coast in Colombia. We also wanted to honor the sacred goldsmithing pieces made by indigenous people throughout history by including them in our audiovisual pieces.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
CGS – Our xylography and painting are inspired by the shapes of the earth and the textures of landscapes. Our audiovisual work, produced in collaboration with indigenous communities and pre-Columbian art museums in Colombia is an homage to Latin-American art history.

LC – Do you use art to express something in particular? Is it your medium of expression?
CGS – We use art to communicate the message that Latinamerica is rich in its landscapes, people and nature and to communicate the messages of the peoples who are at the forefront of safeguarding this biodiversity.

LC – Which is the role the artist plays in society? And contemporary art?
CGS – The role of the artist is to make space for creativity and imagination in an economic system that doesn’t value these practices.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this festival? How did it inspire you?
CGS – This festival focuses on borders and how each human being is limited by them and that creates differences among us. We think difference is important, diversity is what makes up a healthy ecosystem, of the human and the non-human worlds.

LC – In which way the artwork presented in our exhibition is connected with the festival’s theme?
CGS – In our xylography, the woodcut prints the trace of a diverse landscape like the Latinamerican lands which shelter 60% of the planet’s biodiversity. This natural mosaic shelters a vital crucible of infinite shapes—like the peoples who inhabit it. Our practice seeks to celebrate Latin America’s diversity and interculturality. We also believe that when differences meet in dialogue, they create new possibilities.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
CGS – We are very glad we came upon this open call for artists and that we were selected to be a part of the fair. It has been stimulating and motivating to connect to a platform that gives rising artists international visibility and a channel to connect, not only to other artists, but to resources that help us in promoting our art and events. We are just starting and ITSLIQUID has been very supportive of our project.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
CGS – This has been one of the first international fairs we participate in and it has taught us a lot about how to build an audience for our work and interact with it.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
CGS – Absolutely, every chance we get to showcase our work is an incredible opportunity to us. It is extremely special to take our work to different cities. Another amazing opportunity that ITSLIQUID has given us is giving us a platform to promote our events and the sale of our artwork with their thousands of followers, which is extremely important.