Hijos del Cañaveral

Curated by Gabriela Valentin

Artists: Sofίa Maldonado, Esteban Morales Neris, Liam Cotti, Taller La Ofensiva, Larissa De Jesús Negrón

January 24th - 31st, 2024 

CP Projects Space at the School of Visual Arts is pleased to present Hijos del Cañaveral, curated by an MA Curatorial Practice student Gabriela Valentín. 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico faced profound challenges that only underscored its colonial past and contemporary socio-political landscape. The island, known for its lush landscapes and vibrant communities, has weathered the storms of time, none more profound than the aftermath.

With a window into the island's untold stories, these are the silent narrators of the island's journey, works that blend the echoes of history's past with contemporary struggles. As you wander through, unfold a new world of only 100x35 filled with resilience, cultural heritage, and the challenges faced today, often obscured by the shadows of American supremacy. It is navigating the complexities of everyday life, crafting a visual rebellion against the colonial grip that persists. Explore the complex layers that shaped the Boricua identity, an homage to those persisting in the artistic resistance against the prevailing winds of history.

The featured artists, leaders in their own right, illuminate their narrative. Sofia Maldonado's gem, FemTrap (2018), is a discerning discourse on gender dynamics within the Reggaeton genre, provocatively fueling discussions on cultural empowerment. Esteban Morales Neris's Amuletos (Amulets) [2023] is a veritable tome capturing political resistance, symbolized by the machete—an indomitable emblem etched in the chronicles of Puerto Rico's historical