The theme of the third Triennial is "After Paradise": "What comes after paradise?" In contrast to the harmony and rich abundance found in paradise, the post-paradise confronts us with resource shortages, social tensions, and a heavily polluted environment. Although this may sound predominantly negative, "After Paradise" aims to tell a more positive story. Taking responsibility and empowerment are central to this theme. This is reflected in the artistic contributions, with a focus on works that challenge us to engage in dialogue, reflection, and action.
Shirley Villavicencio Pizango is participating at the Triënnale in Kortrijk with her work 'In the end, everything begins again'. The ceramic and painting works of Shirley Villavicencio Pizango stand out due to their fluid, nonchalant style and bright colors. She creates intriguing portraits of family members, friends, and herself in an ostensibly paradisiacal setting. However, the white, uncolored lips of her characters refer to the 'inability to speak' when one is not yet proficient in the language as a migrant, something she has personally experienced. It is her way of paying homage to her Peruvian heritage and giving a voice to a group of people too often forgotten in art history.
In this work, we see an intimate portrait of the artist with her brother. This creates a strong connection to Wit.h's inclusive mission for crip artists. Wit.h creates space, in the broadest sense of the word, in contemporary art for those who are different, for those who are crip or outsiders, for those who think collectively, and for those who do not shy away from the ethical and political context of art. Wit.h questions and rethinks the accessibility of the art field and aims to populate it colorfully. The titles of Villavicencio Pizango’s paintings indicate that her work is less lighthearted than it may initially seem. Beneath the cheerful surface often lies an aura of melancholy. As Bart Cassiman writes: "Despite the colorful palette, these are not cheerful paintings. Even though they radiate a deceptive naivety that is unparalleled and often misleading."
Shirley Villavicencio Pizango's work is on view at Wit.h from 29.06 until 6.10.2024