Ana Escoto-Esteva

As an Art Historian and Curator born and raised in Mexico City, my approach to my practice has always been rooted in interdisciplinary exploration. With a background as a Latin American curator, I have been drawn towards art's political and social interventions. By merging these two aspects of my expertise, I have come to view art as a powerful tool for fostering interpersonal connections and creating a safe space for discussing both political and personal subject matters.

As they say: I yearn,

I live, I love,

let's invent words,

new lights and games,

new nights

that fold themselves

to new words.

Let us make

other gods

less great,

less distant,

shorter and more primal.

Other sexes

let's do

and other imperious needs

our own,

other dreams

without pain and without death.

As they say: I am born,

I sleep, I laugh,

Let's invent life

again

- Susana Thénon, Foundation

I am firmly committed to seizing the dialogic potential inherent within the intersection of politics and art. Traditional institutions have sculpted the frameworks within which we perceive and experience art. Within this context, I see my role as a curator deeply rooted in my temporal reality, to reinterpret these spaces and pave the way for a dialogue that has been historically marginalized, such as discourses surrounding mortality, sexuality, and existence.

In doing so, my intention is not to exploit these subjects for their shock value, but rather to facilitate personal engagement in a sensitive, soulful encounter. This pursuit is reinforced through the theoretical grounding of Julia Kristeva's polylogue, which provides a compass for my curatorial practice.

By consciously including a diverse array of voices, particularly those of the audience, my curatorial approach seeks to challenge conventional practices that tend to neglect the experiential. In this context, I consider love as an important factor in fostering inclusivity, a polyphony of voices that advocates for transformation and empathy within spaces traditionally used to extol the artist. Today, these spaces are reimagined as hubs that celebrate individuality and inspire action.

It is my contention that the emotional and cathartic experiences facilitated by art merit our attention. Indeed, all routes towards social change are seeded in aesthetic encounters with our surroundings. From these sensory interactions, the emotional dimension of our humanity is stirred, and a multitude of feelings - from desire and love to anger and lust - give rise to an innate craving for human connection. I maintain that art, in its myriad forms, serves as a conduit for such connections, providing a platform for dialogue and emotional resonance.

Ultimately, my curatorial vision seeks to honour art as a catalyst for evoking individual emotions, fostering meaningful connections, and stimulating the vibrant dialectic that propels society forward.