Twenty Years of Despacio 2008–2028

It is the year 2028. The ruins of a Central American metropolis. Art is banned. A handful of artists work on dematerialized artistic experiments. Communication is only possible by telekinesis. Despacio is their refuge. This publication marks the beginning, the end, and the future of Despacio, one of the most significant art spaces in Central America. Founded in San José, Costa Rica in 2008, Despacio began with occasional solo exhibitions of local, national, and international artists, and grew into a visionary and highly unconventional art space devoted to art, politics, and ecology by means of public programs, open studio visits, field trips, residencies, and a highly experimental exhibition program focused on pathbreaking artists from Central America. Instead of following the standardized North American and Western European art market, Despacio has proposed a utopic journey free from institutional restrictions, limits, and controls. This book covers Despacio’s journey since 2008 and proposes the continuation of Despacio’s ethos and attitude far into the future—to 2028 and beyond. The publication includes contributions from some of Latin America’s most forward-thinking curators, Fernanda Brenner, Jens Hoffmann, and Sandino Scheidegger; an interview with artist and Despacio founder Federico Herrero by Natalia Valencia Arango; an interview with Pablo León de la Barra by Cristina Ramírez and Erno Hilario; and a newly commissioned photo essay by San José–based artist Pablo Cambronero. Pages: 260 Languages: Spanish and English