Alfredo Jaar

ALFREDO JAAR (Santiago, Chile, 1956).
“Searching for Gramsci,” 2003.
Color photograph.
Signed, dated, and numbered 79/120 on the reverse, on the edition label.
Texte zur Kunst edition, no. 50, 2003. Print run of 120 copies + 20 artist’s proofs.
Measurements: 40.5 x 52 cm.

Created in the context of Alfredo Jaar’s research on the thought of Antonio Gramsci, this photograph is part of a project exploring historical memory and the relationships between art, politics, and society. The image captures a view of the Tiber River as it flows through Rome, near the Tiber Island. The contrast between the churning waters in the foreground and the architecture of the bridge creates a visual tension that transcends the documentary genre. For Jaar, the river and its bridges serve as a metaphor for social divisions and the possibility of forging connections between opposing realities. The composition exemplifies his ability to transform an everyday scene into a reflection on history, memory, and power structures.

Alfredo Jaar is one of the most prominent figures in Latin American contemporary art. Trained in architecture and film, he pursues a multidisciplinary practice that combines photography, installation, and public interventions, addressing political, social, and humanitarian issues. He has participated in major international events, such as the Venice Biennale and Documenta in Kassel, and has received awards including Chile’s National Prize for Visual Arts (2013) and the Hasselblad Award (2020). His work is included in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid, among other institutions.