Cecilia Vicuña

Cecilia Vicuña is a Chilean artist, poet, and activist. Born in 1948, she began her career in the 1960s as part of the neo-avant-garde movement in Santiago, Chile. She has since become internationally recognized for her installations, performance art, writings, and videos. She has exhibited her work in many prominent institutions around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid, and the Tate Modern in London. Vicuña’s work is often inspired by politics, indigenous cultures, and poetic language, and she often uses found objects and everyday materials to create her installations. She is especially known for her “quipus” installations, which are made up of colorful strands of wool draped in intricate knots. These installations are symbolic of her relationship to her indigenous heritage and a way to reclaim her identity as a Chilean. Through her work, Vicuña seeks to challenge power structures and raise awareness of environmental and social justice issues.