Declassified History: Archiving Latin America

An exhibition presented in Toronto at Sur Gallery in September 2019 tackles a dark period in history marked by United States interventions in Latin America. Oppressive regimes from the south are explicitly linked to corrupt governments of the north through installations by artists Omar Estrada, Voluspa Jarpa and Iván Navarro as they capture events that may well be repeated in the future. Jarpa’s installations, reflects on the nature of the archive, on memory and the cultural notion of trauma. Navarro presents a video performance that reflects on the collective psychological trauma of his native country, Chile, combining the visual representation of power with aspects of resistance and memory. Finally, Estrada exposes information about the Condor Operation —a non-declared war of state terror and political repression across Latin America supported by the CIA in the context of the Cold War. Reflecting on the experiences of citizens repressed by past regimes throughout South America, Estrada’s piece re-presents oral histories and narratives that cannot be lost in time, corruption or ignorance. All artists in the exhibition work with testimonials and declassified archives as they engage in an active conversation in deeply divided countries. This paper will discuss the works presented at the exhibition and will testify a history of silence and trauma as well as expose truths from the past. By referencing the dynamics of the Cold War, collective memory and debates about history and responsibility, the artists’ works will allow for a continuous and ongoing discussion around the uncertainty of our future.