Exhibitions
Margarita Paksa challenges the present with her visionary art
One of MALBA's current offerings transcends the idea of homage or historical recovery: it is an invitation to reflect on how certain artistic practices of the past continue to engage with our present, challenging boundaries and expanding horizons. The exhibition Margarita Paksa. Corresponding Ideas, 1964–1984 , open until February 16, highlights an artist who established herself as a key figure in Argentine and Latin American art.
As part of its 25th anniversary celebration, the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (MALBA) reaffirms its position as a central player in the contemporary cultural scene with an exhibition that transcends mere commemoration. The exhibition spans two pivotal decades in the artist's career, a period marked by experimentation, the expansion of artistic languages, and the intersection of art, technology, and politics. Throughout the exhibition, it becomes clear that Paksa was not only a key figure of her time but also a creator capable of anticipating debates that remain unresolved today. Far from being confined to a specific historical context, her work maintains a critical power that challenges contemporary viewers, unsettles complacent perspectives, and stimulates new forms of reflection.
Curated by Nancy Rojas, the exhibition brings together more than 60 works, including installations, graphic pieces, objects, documentation, and projects. This collection allows us to understand why Margarita Paksa became a central figure in contemporary Argentine art and why she was a pioneer in exploring the intersections between art, technology, sound, and political thought.
Margarita Paksa was ahead of her time in developing multimedia narratives long before the concept existed in artistic discourse. In her work, sound, technology, and language are presented as materials as essential as image or object, expanding expressive possibilities and redefining the boundaries of contemporary art.
Political thought permeates Paksa's work, which engages with the feminist currents of her time and maintains a critical perspective on repressive and dictatorial governments. At the same time, sensuality, eroticism, and the sensory dimension occupy a central place in her production. In several of her pieces, listening acquires the same importance as seeing, transforming the viewer into an active participant in the work and making the artistic experience a vibrant and immersive encounter.
