2022
2022 was an exciting year for Salvadoran art. The presence of Salvadoran artists in international venues has become consistent and stronger. This presence is highly important as the Central American region has been constantly overlooked. However, there is still a long road ahead to achieve the recognition that the artists of the region deserve.
In 2022 YES Contemporary focused on generating exhibitions featuring Salvadoran artists at renowned international venues. We have had the privilege of collaborating with institutions such as Parrish Art Museum, Reina Sofía Museum, CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Art, San Francisco, and more. As important as the institutional presence, we fostered the connection between artists, galleries and art fairs, as we acknowledge a relation with the global art market is essential to sustain the artists’ careers.
During 8 years YES has been evolving along a dynamic art scene. This implies a challenge for YES to be responsive to the needs of the art community. For instance, one of our most recent programs, YES Contemporary Institute, was created to provide theoretical and practical tools and resources to the artists to advance in their professional career, and at the same time connect them with the international art scene. As part of this program, YES will be collaborating with a group of 5 fellows in different stages of their professional career. For 2 years, YES will be actively involved in their projects and endeavors.
We are honored to work with such an amazing community and we are thankful for all your support during the past year. We look forward to continuing working with you.
Just Say Y.ES
MARIO CADER-FRECH Y.ES Contemporary Founder
Exhibitions
STUDIO LENCA IN MIAMI ART WEEK
UNTITLED ART FAIR SP15
Studio Lenca presented new works, installations, and performative events during Miami art week, including a solo booth in Untitled Art Fair, from November 29, 2022 - December 03, 2022. The booth was part of the fair’s Special Project section, and featured a series of work that are the culmination of a month spent in his native El Salvador, reframing his own imagining of the country.
The artist also presented an interactive performance during the opening day of the fair.
Studio Lenca, Dancing Downtown
FOUNTAINHEAD RESIDENCY
Lenca was selected to participate in Fountainhead Residency, a Miami-based artist residency. During the residency, Lenca created Chisme installation in collaboration with WeCount! Florida, a local organization that supports migrant workers.
1111 LINCOLN ROAD
Works from the Chisme installation premiered during Art Week Miami in an immersive sculptural installation at 1111 Lincoln Road. This works will become part of YES Contemporary Art Loan Program.
Chisme installation has been acquired by The Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, NY See yescontemporary.org/museums
PS122 GALLERY
NEW YORK
ENTRETEJIDOS AND YES AR PROGRAM
Antonio Romero, Beatriz Cortez, Gabriela Novoa, Kevin Baltazar, Lucy Tomasino, Natalia Domínguez, Melissa Guevara, Muriel Hasbun, Orlando Villatoro, Ricardo Flores, Victor Artiga
HISPAFEST
MIAMI
YES AR PROGRAM
Antonio Romero, Beatriz Cortez, Lucy Tomasino, Natalia Domínguez, Orlando Villatoro, Ricardo Flores
Beatriz Cortez, Glacial Pothole
Víctor Artiga, Masas Cuerpos
ARNICHES 26
MADRID, SPAIN 8611
Aria XYX, Gabriela Novoa
Muñeco de amarre 7/27
Cerámica y Textil $500 USD
Y.ES Contemporary AR Project presents 5 artworks by a group of Salvadoran artists. The show includes 2 digital sculptures, a geo localized sculpture, an immersive installation, and an interactive character. The works derived from the heritage and history of the region, for instance, including ancient elements such as clay, mountains, or volcanic rocks. At the same time, they juxtapose with elements from digital technology and contemporary culture. This contrast between the present and the past follow up on reflections regarding themes relevant to El Salvador during the last decades, such as violence, sociopolitical context, migration, and more.
Entangled/Entretejidos is a project co-curated by Omar López-Chahoud and Patricio Majano that reflects on the heterogeneous experiences that can be understood as Salvadoran. Each artist’s history constitutes a node that exists in this complex network of identity derived from various sources—the heritage of indigenous peoples, a colonial past, a civil war, and mass migration.
Aria XYX, Muñeco de amarre 7/27
BARCELONA
ENTRETEJIDOS FEATURED AT VIDEO BOX
Gabriela Novoa, Kevin Baltazar, Lucy Tomasino, Natalia Domínguez, Melissa Guevara, Muriel Hasbun, Victor Artiga
5 EXHIBITIONS
ARTISTS
Activations
During ARCO Madrid, YES Contemporary organized a guided visit to the exhibition Promesas del Porvenir, at Reina Sofía Museum, which features works by Salvadoran artists Abigail Reyes, Karlos Carcamo, and Walterio Iraheta from El Salvador, and Jorge de León, Edgar Calel, Benvenuto Chavajay, Sandra Monterroso, Antonio Pichillá, Ángel Poyón Cali, Fernando Poyón, Moises Barrios and Vivian Suter from Guatemala.
Karlos Cárcamo, A Concrete Movement I-VI
Art Loan Program
ARTWORKS
ARTISTS
November 28, 2022 - March 17, 2023
CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Art, San Francisco Guadalupe Maravilla, Disease Thrower #4
March 18, 2022 - August 7, 2022
Prisma Galleries, Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, Norway. Sound Botanica exhibition. Guadalupe Maravilla, Disease Thrower #4
November 19, 2021 - June 24, 2022
Another Space, New York
Elsewhere(s) exhibition, curated by Estrellita Brodsky and José Falconi
Outer Space Colonial Tropical Suit, Simón Vega
5 EXHIBITIONS
9
ARTISTS FEATURED
September 24, 2022 - October 30, 2022
PS122 Gallery, New York
YES AR Exhibition
Antonio Romero, Beatriz Cortez, Gabriela Novoa, Lucy Tomasino, Natalia Domínguez, Orlando Villatoro, Ricardo Flores
September 15, 2022 - October 23, 2022
Hispafest, Miami
YES AR Exhibition
Antonio Romero, Beatriz Cortez, Gabriela Novoa, Lucy Tomasino, Natalia Domínguez, Orlando Villatoro, Ricardo Flores
Antonio Romero, Eróstrato
5 works by Studio Lenca from Chisme Installation are now part of YES Art Loan Program
Y.ES talks
MARCH 18
Patricio Majano conducted a workshop and a talk at the Cultural Center of Spain in Costa Rica, to discuss institutional and independent art projects in Central America.
SEPTEMBER 12
Omar Lopez-Chahoud and Patricio Majano participated in an online conversation that focused on the artistic reality of El Salvador and the different ways in which artists link to their identity as Salvadorans. This talk was part of SWAB Thinks program, a series of talks organized by SWAB Art Fair.
Y.ES Contemporary Institute
FELLOWS
CRISTIAN FRANCO MARTIN
Artist and curator from Mexico conducted a three-day workshop with Y.ES Contemporary Institute Fellows, where they discussed the possibilities for independent projects in the region.
AMANADA HERNÁNDEZ
ANTONIO ROMERO
ARIA XYX
GABRIELA NOVOA
NATALIA DOMÍNGUEZ
Amanda Hernandez participated in a month-long residency at Proyectos Ultravioleta in Guatemala.
Natalia Domínguez will present a series of performances in each country of Central America and Mexico as part of Ojushte project. This project was supported through a Y.ES Contemporary Institute Grant.
Antonio Romero is creating a series of monotypes and linocut prints that address the political context and history of El Salvador. This project was supported through a Y.ES Contemporary Institute Grant.
Y.ES Contemporary Art Trips
5 GUESTS VISITED EL SALVADOR
ACEVEDO-YATES
Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
Director of Tern Gallery
LEVY GARVEY
Director, Long Road Projects, Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University
Director of Gallery Nosco CRISTIAN FRANCO MARTÍN
Founder and Director of Doña Pancha Fest
CARLA
AARON
CYRIL MOUMEN
AMANDA COULSON
3
POP-UP EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM OF ART OF EL SALVADOR
LA FÁBRICA
TEATRO LUIS POMA
2021 Partners
The impact of Y.ES Contemporary in 2021 is made possible with the support of these partners:
AIR EUROPA
EDIFICIO COLABORA
PROYECTOS ULTRAVIOLETA
ATELIER SOLAR
NETWORK OF SPANISH CULTURAL CENTERS IN CENTRAL AMERICA
SWAB ART FAIR
PS122 GALLERY
HISPAFEST
BASS MUSEUM
THE UNDERLINE
NOSCO GALLERY
LA RESI
CCA WATTIS INSTITUTE OF CONTEPORARY ART
DOÑA PANCHA FEST
CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL
MUSEUM OF ART OF EL SALVADOR
UNTITLED ART FAIR
MUSEO REINA SOFÍA
MEMORIA GALLERY
ARNICHES 26 GALLERY
LA FÁBRICA
MoMA
PPOW GALLERY
FOUNTAINHEAD RESIDENCY
TEATRO LUIS POMA
LABERINTO PROJECTS
THE PARRISH ART MUSEUM
TERN GALLERY
LONG ROAD PROJECTS
ENSAYO Y ERROR
SATIS.FACTORY ART SPACE
Y.ES IS AN INITIATIVE OF THE ROBERT S. WENNETT AND MARIO CADER-FRECH FOUNDATION
yescontemporary.org
@yescontemporary
Y.ES Council
Mario Cader-Frech
Robert S. Wennett
Adriana Cisneros de Griffin
Simón Vega
Carolina Alvarez-Mathies
Gabriela Poma
Solita Cohen
Beatriz Cortez
Claire Breukel
Y.ES Team
Omar Lopez-Chahoud
Patricio Majano