TEA Tenerife Launches New Season Exploring Colonial History and Island Identity

TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA) is launching an ambitious new season on October 3, aimed at questioning the roots of colonial history and how it has shaped island identity. The center will explore the historical narratives that have defined the archipelago through a series of thought-provoking exhibitions.

The centerpiece is a group exhibition titled Mientras seamos salvajes (As Long As We Are Wild), running until January 14. Curated by a diverse team, the show draws on the work of anthropologist Fernando Estévez to challenge how figures like the "guanche" or the "mago" have been constructed as cultural symbols. Featuring works from over fifty artists, the exhibition encourages visitors to rethink these categories and consider how they influence our modern understanding of identity.

Alongside this, TEA is hosting a retrospective for painter José Aguiar to mark the 50th anniversary of his death. Running until January 17, the exhibition explores Aguiar’s role in the Madrid art scene and his influence on Canarian visual identity, featuring fresh perspectives from filmmaker Macu Machín and artist Fernando Sánchez Castillo.

Another highlight is La realidad parece que nos toca (Reality Seems to Touch Us), a retrospective dedicated to Tenerife artist Pepa Izquierdo. Open from November 6 to March 28, the exhibition showcases five decades of her work, focusing on her unique approach to light, daily life, and her connection to the poetry of Luis Feria.

Finally, the season concludes with the TEA Contemporary Biennial, running from December 4 to February 28, 2026. This event will serve as a creative laboratory, bringing together artists such as Lara Almarcegui, Antoni Hervàs, and Laila Hida to explore the relationship between local communities and their environment. Through these exhibitions, TEA continues its mission to serve as a space for debate, bridging the gap between historical memory and the modern world.