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Discover "Cautín": Seba Calfuqueo's First European Solo Exhibition at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

This powerful contemporary art exhibition explores indigenous Mapuche perspectives through new commissions inspired by the significant Cautín River.

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum proudly presents "Cautín," the groundbreaking first solo European exhibition by Mapuche trans artist Seba Calfuqueo. Visitors are invited to experience a collection of powerful new art commissions, deeply inspired by the Cautín River and its cultural significance. This exhibition fosters a profound dialogue about colonial history, ancestral cosmovision, and envisioning a reciprocal relationship with nature.

About Cautín at Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Cautín at Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid

Exhibition summary

Cautín is the first solo exhibition in Europe by Mapuche trans artist Seba Calfuqueo, showcasing new commissions inspired by the Cautín River. The exhibition invites visitors to explore new relationships with nature grounded in reciprocity and coexistence.

Curatorial context

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, in collaboration with TBA21, presents 'Cautín,' the inaugural European solo exhibition by the Mapuche trans artist Seba Calfuqueo. The exhibition features new works commissioned by TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, centered around the Cautín River, a significant waterway in the Araucanía region. This river's history, marked by colonization, resistance, and the defense of Mapuche territory, serves as a powerful symbol of the tension between colonial forces and the enduring Mapuche worldview that venerates water as life. Through the exhibition, the river is personified as a living entity that shapes Calfuqueo's creations, reflecting its own historical journey. 'Cautín' encourages visitors to envision alternative ways of engaging with the natural world, emphasizing principles of reciprocity, mutual recognition, and harmonious coexistence among diverse forms of life, including waters, humans, non-human beings, and mythical entities. The exhibition is curated by Marina Avia Estrada.

Admission and ticket notes

General museum admission applies. Specific exhibition entry is within the museum's general opening hours. Free access is available on Monday afternoons thanks to Mastercard sponsorship, and on Saturday evenings from 21:00 to 23:00 thanks to Thyssen Nights with Uber. Special hours apply on December 24th and 31st, and the museum is closed on December 25th and January 1st. Visitors can find information on reduced and free tickets through the museum's website.

Cautín key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Cautín at Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid

Venue
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Current status
Open now
Exhibition schedule
From Oct 25, 2023
Artist line / attribution
Seba Calfuqueo, a Mapuche trans artist, is featured in this exhibition.
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