A Universal History of Infamy

A Universal History of Infamy was a multi-pronged exhibition that opened across three different art spaces in Los Angeles County, with the support of the Getty Foundation, under Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA. The ‘A’ in the title announces the shortcomings of any “universal history” or comprehensive exhibition survey, which is particularly relevant considering the varied interests and experiences of US Latino and Latin American artists. The artists included upend any notion of absoluteness, whether it be in relationship to what defines Latin America, the art associated with it, or the methods of approaching its complex history. In addition to curatorial essays – all different in format and scope – this publication offers a look into the different perspectives, approaches, and scales highlighted at each of the show’s venues: an encyclopedic museum (LACMA), a school (Charles White Elementary School), and an artist residency complex (18th Street Arts Center). Artists include Angela Bonadíes, Mariana Castillo Deball, Carolina Caycedo, Josefina Guilisasti, Tamar Guimarães and Kasper Akhøj, Runo Lagomarsino, Fernanda Laguna, Michael Linares, NuMu (Stefan Benchoam, Jessica Kairé), MapaTeatro (Heidi Abderhalden, Rolf Abderhalden), Naufus Ramirez-Figueroa, Gala Porras-Kim, Vincent Ramos, Oscar Santillán, Dolores Zinny and Juan Maidagan, and Carla Zaccagnini.

English, 180 x 250 mm, 272 pages, color illustrations, softcover, edited by José Luis Blondet, Rita Gonzalez,
Pilar Tompkins Rivas and Jennifer Cernada, texts by Anuradha Vikram, José Luis Blondet, Pilar Tompkins Rivas and Rita Gonzalez, designed by Studio Manuel Raeder, co-published with Los Angeles County Museum of Art, ISBN 978-3-943514-80-3, published by BOM DIA BOA TARDE BOA NOITE.