Recently, I returned from a month-long trip to Buenos Aires. My central aim was to gather primary sources for my dissertation, which investigates the role that the Italian immigrant community played in the rise of modern Argentine art. I spent many hours in archives, libraries, and parillas (traditional steakhouses). The overall experience was productive and a lot of fun.
Unlike other Latin American nations, Argentina is comprised largely of European immigrants and their offspring. The largest immigrant group is Italian, and today, approximately 60% of Argentina’s population is either Italian-born or of Italian descent. This is reflected in the country’s Spanish, which shares many of the rhythmic peculiarities of Italian, in the addictive and ubiquitous pizza, which has far more cheese and thicker crust than any pie in New York, and in the architecture, which often includes Renaissance or Romanesque elements. Most importantly for my interests, much of the art created between 1920-40, especially by Italian immigrant artists who traveled to Europe for training, bears a strong resemblance to Italian Futurism, French Cubism, and German expressionism.
I have long been intrigued by cross-cultural exchange and the way that artists carry ideas around the globe as they travel or move. If you are interested in learning more about this, I’ll be teaching a class at MoMA this fall entitled Border Crossings: Artistic Travels, Migrations, and Diasporas. The class meets on Thursday evenings throughout November-December, and I’d love for you to join! For more information, click here.