Southern delights: Este Arte’s second edition opens in Punta del Este, Uruguay

Richard Tuschman’s Woman at a window, 2013, is inspired by the work of prominent American painter Edward Hopper
The second edition of South American art fair Este Arte offers visitors the very considerable high season delights of the Uruguayan resort of Punta del Este. Pictured: Richard Tuschman’s Woman at a window, 2013, is inspired by the work of prominent American painter Edward Hopper. Courtesy Photology
(Image credit: Photology)

As Art Basel Miami has proven, international contemporary art fairs can survive and prosper away from the traditional art hubs if they offer chilled North Americans and Europeans a bit of beach and winter sun on the side.

The second edition of Este Arte offers visitors the very considerable high season delights of the Uruguayan resort of Punta del Este. Of course, as with ABM, Este Arte also serves to celebrate and exploit the increasing interest in South American and Central American art and the increased power and influence of collectors in the region.

Este Arte 2016 pulls together over 20 galleries from across Uruguay, South America and beyond. For those particularly interested in checking out the vitality of the local scene, Black Gallery will display a group show by the three Uruguayan artists, Julia Castagno, Pati Fernández and María Freire; and Galería Sur is presenting works by local artists Eduardo Cardozo, Wifredo Diaz Valdez, Ignacio Iturria and Marcelo Legrand. International big hitters on show include Daniel Buren, Cildo Meireles, Carlos Garaicoa, Antony Gormley and Joana Vasconcelos.

Director Laura Bardier understands that Este Arte offers a sort of boutique and bite-sized treat after December’s shows in Florida, increasingly overwhelming in scale and impossible to fully digest (especially given Miami’s chronic traffic trouble during the fair).

A series of talks around the fair includes the Este Charla programme which looks particularly at the public role of increasingly big spending South American collectors and includes a conversation between Argentinean artist Leandro Erlich and Paraguayan architect Gloria Cabral.

Destellos de un fractal 1, by Julia Castagno, 2015

As with Art Basel Miami, Este Arte also serves to celebrate and exploit increasing interests in South American and Central American art. Pictured: Destellos de un fractal 1, by Julia Castagno, 2015. Courtesy blackgallery

(Image credit: TBC)

Esfuerzo 2, by Carlos Fernandez, 2015

This year’s iteration of the fair pulls together over 20 galleries from across Uruguay, South America and beyond. Pictured: Esfuerzo 2, by Carlos Fernandez2015. Courtesy Factoría de Arte Santa Rosa 

(Image credit: TBC)

Pictured left, Triptych, by Francis Bacon, 1987–1989, . Right: Aniversario / Aniversary, by Carlos Garaicoa, 2015

Pictured left: Triptych, by Francis Bacon, 1987–1989. Courtesy Le Point Fort. Right: Aniversario / Aniversary, by Carlos Garaicoa, 2015. Photography: Brian Chan. Courtesy Galleria Continua, San Gimignano / Beijing / Les Moulins / Havana

(Image credit: Brian Chan)

Framework Houses, by Marlon de Azambuja, 2015

Director Laura Bardier understands that Este Arte offers a sort of boutique and bite-sized treat after December’s shows in Miami. Pictured: Framework Houses, by Marlon de Azambuja2015. Courtesy the artist and Studio Sandra Recio

(Image credit: TBC)

Luz de obra, by Ricardo Lanzarini, 2015

Luz de obra, by Ricardo Lanzarini, 2015. Courtesy Xippas Galleries

(Image credit: Roberto G Rivera Sánchez)

Construction and Deconstruction (I1VII) (The Navel Of The World), by Eulalia Valldosera, 1990–1991

Construction and Deconstruction (I1VII) (The Navel Of The World), by Eulalia Valldosera, 1990–1991. Courtesy the artist and Carroll/Fletcher 

(Image credit: TBC)

sem título, by Eduardo Sued, 2015

sem título, by Eduardo Sued, 2015. Courtesy Mul.ti.plo Espaço Arte

(Image credit: TBC)

Construction and Deconstruction (I1VII) (The Navel Of The World), by Eulalia Valldosera, 1990–1991

Construction and Deconstruction (I1VII) (The Navel Of The World), by Eulalia Valldosera, 1990–1991. Courtesy the artist and Carroll/Fletcher 

(Image credit: TBC)

Isla de Flores, from the series Vía Pública, by Santiago Aldabalde, 2014

Isla de Flores, from the series Vía Pública, by Santiago Aldabalde, 2014. Courtesy La Pecera 

(Image credit: TBC)

INFORMATION                                                                                                                       
Este Art is on view until 8 January. For more information, visit Este Arte's website

ADDRESS

Camino del Cerro Eguzquiza
La Barra
Punta del Este
Uruguay

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