Iván Argote’s artistry is heavily influenced by resistance, civil disobedience, and his migration from Colombia to France. In a re-evaluation of hegemonic narratives, Argote frequently intervenes in public spaces, creating large-scale sculptures and installations that attempt to reinterpret and unravel cyclical layers of time and meaning. Exhibited in the Giardini, at the Biennale Arte, the statue’s political connotations are metamorphosed into vessels for natural life. In addition to the installation, Argote’s video Paseo can be viewed in the Arsenale. This work is a decolonial fiction that depicts Madrid’s Plaza de Colón’s Columbus statue riding in exile through the capital. Argote’s deconstructions underscore his commitment to historical injustices and ecological concerns. From Columbus’s downfall, a stunning transformation is born, from which new life emerges and a fresh legacy is written.
—Amanda Carneiro
