DIEGO RÍSQUEZ’ American Trilogy: Amérika, Terra Incógnita

Monday, November 20, 2017

Diego Rísquez’ American Trilogy: Amérika, Terra Incógnita

"Amérika, Terra Incógnita"

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“With stunningly rich and complex visual images, Rísquez’ films eschew all dialogue yet present a coherent and critical reinterpretation of Venezuelan history.” —Ana M. López

In the 1980s, the multifaceted artist, painter and filmmaker from Venezuela, Diego Rísquez, undertook the daunting project of a trilogy about the real and mythical histories of the Latin American continent and made his first feature film: Bolivar, Tropikal Symphony, which became the first Super 8 film to be selected for the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival. Amérika, TerraIncógnita, originally shot in Super 16mm and later blown up to 35mm, is composed like tableaux vivants offering a visual journey into the reverse perspective of European colonialism—the journey of a captive Indian into the Spanish court.

In Person: Diego Rísquez

This program is part of the Los Angeles Filmforum film series: Ism Ism Ism: Experimental Cinema in Latin America. Made possible through grants from the Getty Foundation as part of the Getty-led Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA, a far-reaching and ambitious exploration of Latin American and Latino art in dialogue with Los Angeles. Additional support provided by the Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Diego Rísquez’ presence was made possible thanks to the support of the Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts.