TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes Announces Six Projects for Upcoming Contemporary Biennial
TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes has selected six diverse art projects for this year’s Contemporary Biennial, which will explore the intersection of local identity, social issues, and history when they debut in November.
TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes has finalized the plans for this year’s Contemporary Biennial after reviewing 337 proposals from 20 countries. A selection committee—made up of Sergio Rubira, Natalia Álvarez Simó, Sofía Hernández Chong-Cuy, Chus Martínez, and Tania Pardo—has chosen six projects that balance local, national, and international talent. These works will now undergo a research and development phase before being exhibited in November.
The selected projects focus on the intersection of local identity and social issues. This theme is particularly relevant in the Canary Islands today, as debates over development and the preservation of collective memory become increasingly important. Through contemporary art, the exhibition aims to explore how urban growth and economic shifts affect communities and their history.
Several projects highlight the reality of the Canary Islands:
- María Laura Benavente creates a "living archive" of local crafts to protect them from fading away.
- Chico-Trópico uses sound to examine neighborhood dynamics in San Andrés and how social conflict shapes the urban landscape.
- Alejandro Robaina reflects on the body and territory by exploring the experiences of hospitality workers and issues of job security and gender identity.
The international and national side of the Biennial includes three additional works:
- RRD will present an evolving installation focused on visual anthropology and Tenerife’s maritime history.
- Libertad Rojo invites citizen participation to help reconstruct everyday rituals.
- Antoni Hervàs examines the life of Paco España to explore the history of transformism and sexual dissidence as forms of cultural resistance.
By supporting these projects, TEA highlights the role of artistic research in social analysis. The Biennial serves as more than just an exhibition; it acts as a laboratory where history and modern challenges meet, offering a critical look at life in the archipelago today.