In a cerulean sky over New York City, in June 1982, five decommissioned W.W. II planes smoke-dotted sentences in the air. They were lines from “La vida nueva,” a poem by the Chilean artist Raúl Zurita. Its subject? The poem reflected on the U.S.-led military coup of 1973, directed against Chile’s democratically elected government; a dictatorship would take its place. The rapid disintegration of the text symbolized the moment of hope, gone up in smoke. In the online exhibition “After La vida nueva,” a group of contemporary artists draw from history, archives, and personal memories to reflect back on those times. —E.C.
The Arts Intel Report
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
After La Vida Nueva
When
Aug 7–31, 2020
Where
Etc
Raúl Zurita, documentation of “La vida nueva,” 1982. Courtesy the artist. Photo by Ana María López.