Light has long been a silent protagonist in the visual arts, shaping perception, emotion, and even space itself. Yet in the hands of Latin American artists, it has become a medium of radical experimentation—where technology, philosophy, and culture collide to redefine what art can be. At the forefront of this movement stands Poéticas de la luz, a groundbreaking exhibition at Buenos Aires’ Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA), which invites visitors to explore the intersection of light, technology, and artistic expression across the continent. Running from June 12 to August 17, 2026, the show curates works that challenge traditional boundaries, asking: How does light shape identity, memory, and collective experience in Latin America?
Curated by Jessica Morgan and Min Sun Jeon—two leading voices in contemporary art—Poéticas de la luz is not merely a retrospective of artistic techniques but a manifesto for how Latin American creators are engaging with the digital age. The exhibition spans installations, video art, and immersive environments, all of which leverage light as both material and metaphor. From the neon glow of urban landscapes to the ephemeral projections of historical narratives, the show underscores a continent where technology and tradition often coexist in tension.
What sets this exhibition apart is its deliberate focus on Latin American perspectives, a region where the interplay of indigenous cosmologies, colonial legacies, and cutting-edge innovation has produced a distinct aesthetic language. While artists like Dan Flavin pioneered light-based art in the 1960s, Latin American practitioners have expanded its possibilities—using light to interrogate power, memory, and the particularly act of perception. For Morgan and Jeon, the curatorial framework is clear: “Light is not just a tool. it is a political and spiritual force.” This philosophy permeates the exhibition, from the MALBA’s historic halls to its newly reimagined digital spaces.
From Flavin to the Americas: The Evolution of Light Art
Though Dan Flavin’s work in the 1960s laid the groundwork for light as a sculptural medium, Latin American artists have since redefined its potential. The exhibition traces this lineage through key figures, including Lygia Clark, whose Bichos (1960s) invited viewers to interact with light and color as physical forces, and Tarsila do Amaral, whose vibrant canvases prefigured a syncretic approach to visual culture. Yet Poéticas de la luz moves beyond homage, spotlighting contemporary voices who are actively reshaping the dialogue.
One standout work is “Luz Oblicua” by Chilean artist Francis Alÿs, an installation that uses projected light to distort architectural space, evoking the disorienting effects of migration and urban displacement. Nearby, Brazilian artist Rosana Paulino explores light as a vehicle for reclaiming Black histories, her “Luz Negra” series transforming shadows into symbols of resistance. These pieces reflect a broader trend in Latin American art: the use of light to confront historical erasures and imagine alternative futures.
The exhibition also highlights the role of technology in contemporary practice. Artists like Dora Salazar (Mexico) and Paulo Nazareth (Brazil) employ LED arrays, holography, and generative algorithms to create works that evolve in real time. Salazar’s “Neon Tropics” series, for instance, layers digital and analog techniques to depict the environmental degradation of the Amazon, while Nazareth’s “Luz Fluida” installation responds dynamically to audience movement, blurring the line between viewer and participant.
Curatorial Vision: Jessica Morgan and Min Sun Jeon on Light as Resistance
Jessica Morgan, MALBA’s Chief Curator, has described Poéticas de la luz as an attempt to “decipher how light functions as both a mirror and a mask in Latin American societies.” Her collaboration with Min Sun Jeon—an art historian specializing in Latin American modernism—aims to bridge historical and contemporary practices. In a recent interview with ArtNews, Morgan emphasized the exhibition’s focus on ephemerality: “Light is inherently temporary, and in a region marked by political volatility, this temporality becomes a metaphor for resilience.”
Jeon, whose research spans from José Clemente Orozco to Tania Bruguera, brings a critical lens to the discussion. She points to how Latin American artists have historically used light to subvert authority—whether through the luminarias of Mexican Día de los Muertos or the projections of the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST) in Brazil. Poéticas de la luz extends this tradition into the digital era, featuring works that engage with data visualization, augmented reality, and AI-generated imagery.
The exhibition is divided into five thematic sections, each exploring a different dimension of light’s cultural role:
- Luz como Memoria: Works that use light to preserve or reinterpret historical narratives, such as Adriana Varejão’s distorted colonial frescoes.
- Luz como Protesta: Pieces that employ light as a tool of activism, including Melvin Motta’s “Luz Roja” series, which critiques state violence through red-light installations.
- Luz como Ritual: Art that reimagines indigenous and Afro-diasporic spiritual practices, such as Jaime Lauriano’s light-based reenactments of Mapuche ceremonies.
- Luz como Ficción: Speculative works that challenge perceptions of reality, like Gabriela Golder’s “Neon Fantasmas”, which animates ghostly figures in public spaces.
- Luz como Futuro: Futuristic installations that envision sustainable technologies, including Leonardo Ulian’s solar-powered light sculptures.
Why This Exhibition Matters: Light as a Global Language
Poéticas de la luz arrives at a moment when the boundaries between physical and digital art are dissolving. As The Guardian noted in a preview, the exhibition reflects a broader shift in how Latin American artists engage with global audiences—no longer as outsiders, but as architects of a distinct visual language. This is particularly relevant in an era where artificial intelligence and virtual reality are reshaping creative production.
For Latin American artists, light offers a unique advantage: it is both universal and local. While Flavin’s fluorescent tubes became icons of Minimalism in the U.S., Latin American practitioners have infused light with context-specific meanings. In Colombia, for example, artists like Dora García use light to explore the legacy of conflict, while in Argentina, Martín Bonadeo’s neon works interrogate the country’s economic crises. The exhibition’s international resonance lies in its ability to translate these local narratives into a shared visual language.
MALBA’s decision to host the show is also a statement about the institution’s evolving role. Founded in 1997 to showcase Latin American modernism, the museum has increasingly positioned itself as a platform for contemporary experimentation. By pairing historical works with cutting-edge technology, Poéticas de la luz signals MALBA’s commitment to bridging past and future—a mission that resonates with audiences beyond Buenos Aires.
What to Expect: A Visitor’s Guide
The exhibition is designed to be immersive, with Sala 5 on the second floor serving as its centerpiece. Visitors are encouraged to move through the space slowly, allowing the interplay of light and shadow to unfold. Key highlights include:
- A 360-degree projection by Carlos Motta, mapping the transatlantic slave trade through luminous pathways.
- An interactive LED wall by Paula La Greca, where viewers can “paint” with light, their contributions archived in real time.
- A sound-light installation by Marina Abramović’s protégé Julio Le Parc, blending kinetic sculpture with ambient audio.
Practical details for visitors:
- Dates: June 12 – August 17, 2026
- Location: MALBA, Av. Figueroa Alcorta 3415, Buenos Aires
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11 AM–7 PM (closed Mondays)
- Tickets: AR$1,500 general admission; discounts for students and seniors. Book online to secure timed entry.
- Accessibility: The exhibition includes audio guides in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, with tactile models for visually impaired visitors.
Beyond the Exhibition: The Future of Light Art in Latin America
While Poéticas de la luz is a landmark event, its themes extend far beyond MALBA’s walls. Across Latin America, artists and institutions are exploring how light can address pressing contemporary issues, from climate change to digital surveillance**. In Mexico City, the Museo Jumex recently hosted “Luz y Caos”, an exhibition on light-based activism, while in São Paulo, Instituto Moreira Salles has launched a digital archive of light art in Brazil.
Looking ahead, the conversation is likely to focus on sustainability. As artists like Leonardo Ulian demonstrate, light can be both a medium and a metaphor for ecological urgency. Ulian’s “Luz Solar” project, featured in the exhibition, uses photovoltaic cells to power installations, aligning art with renewable energy goals—a trend that could redefine the field in the coming decade.
For Maria Petrova, the Editor of World Today Journal, the exhibition’s significance lies in its ability to connect. “Light is a universal language, but in Latin America, it carries the weight of history, resistance, and innovation,” she notes. “This show doesn’t just exhibit art; it offers a mirror to the continent’s soul.”
Key Takeaways
- Curatorial Innovation: Poéticas de la luz is the first major exhibition to frame light art as a distinctly Latin American practice, curated by Jessica Morgan and Min Sun Jeon.
- Technological Fusion: The show blends analog and digital techniques, from traditional neon to AI-generated projections.
- Political Undercurrents: Light is used to address issues like colonialism, migration, and environmental justice.
- Global Relevance: The exhibition positions Latin American art as a leader in contemporary light-based practices.
- Visitor Experience: Immersive installations encourage interaction, with audio guides and accessibility features.
What’s Next?
The exhibition concludes on August 17, 2026, but its impact is expected to linger. MALBA has announced plans for a public symposium on September 5, featuring curators, artists, and technologists to discuss the future of light art in Latin America. A digital catalog with essays by Morgan and Jeon will be released in early 2027, available for purchase on MALBA’s website.
For those unable to attend in person, MALBA will host virtual tours and live Q&As with participating artists via their Instagram and YouTube channels. The exhibition’s hashtag, #PoéticasDeLaLuz, is already trending, with artists and critics sharing their interpretations online.
As the exhibition draws to a close, one question remains: Can light—both as medium and metaphor—bridge the gaps between cultures, technologies, and histories? For the artists of Poéticas de la luz, the answer is a resounding yes.
Have you visited an exhibition that redefined your understanding of light as art? Share your experiences in the comments below—or tag @WorldTodayJournal on Instagram to continue the conversation. For more updates on Latin American contemporary art, subscribe to our Arts section.