The TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes Unveils New Exhibition on Colonial Canarian Identity

The TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes has opened a new collective exhibition titled 'Mientras seamos salvajes' (While We Are Wild), which explores the dichotomy of civilization versus barbarism, particularly in colonial contexts. The exhibition features over eighty artists including Leonardo Torriani, Manolo Millares, César Manrique, Ana Mendieta, and Susan Hiller. The exhibition is a collaborative effort by seven curators and will be open to the public for free until January 24, 2027.

The exhibition is inspired by the ideas of Canarian anthropologist Fernando Estévez, who posited that Canarian identity revolves around four figures: the guanche, the magician, the tourist, and the migrant. The exhibition focuses on the guanche and the magician, with plans for the museum to work on the latter pair next year. The director of the exhibition, Sergio Rubira, explains that collaborative efforts enrich the narrative being told.

The exhibition aims to highlight the Canary Islands as a pioneering site of colonial modernity, connected with Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The exhibition opens with themes of culture and the establishment of hierarchies among bodies, territories, and cultures.