Palabrarma (obreros palabreando)

1977 - Drawing & Print (Drawing & Print)

21.59 x 27.94 cm

Cecilia Vicuña

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Palabrarma (obreros palabreando) by Cecilia Vicuña is a series of works in which the artist blends poetry, political commentary and graphic design. The title itself is a portmanteau that unites the words palabra (word) and arma (weapon) that speaks literally of the power of words through their poetic potential. A poet herself, Vicuña developed a long series of palabrarmas on diverse media that were often used as slogans in political demonstrations. They also operate as a type of concrete poetry, as much as drawings/paintings in and of themselves. Palabrarma (obreros palabreando) depicts the work palabrarma as being welded by metal workers. The title in parenthesis “workers wording” refers not only to the workers talking to each other, and thus using their words to create personal and most likely political content, but at the same time crafting the word palabrarma itself with what could be sheets of metal. This kind of visual wordplay is characteristic of Vicuña’s work and merges her practice with words and images, as much as her political convictions and participation in activism. Despite the apparently simple nature of the work, it is representative of the complex and multidisciplinary nature of Vicuña’s work.

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Cecilia Vicuña integrates practices of poetry, performance, Conceptualism, and textile craft in response to pressing concerns of the modern world, including ecological destruction, human rights, and cultural homogenization. Born and raised in Santiago, she was exiled to London in the early 1970s, after the violent military coup against President Salvador Allende. This sense of impermanence, and a desire to preserve and pay tribute to the indigenous history and culture of Chile, have characterized her work throughout her career.

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Colors:

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• poetry.n.01
• political.a.01
• language.n.01
• activism.n.01
• graphic.a.03