Latin Americanness and the Avant-Garde in Latin American Art Criticism of the 1960s and 1970s

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of art criticism in Latin America during the 1960s and 1970s, focusing on Latin Americanness and the Avant-Garde as fundamental concepts. Through the study of texts by critics such as Marta Traba, Ferreira Gullar, Juan Acha, and Damián Bayón, various interpretations of cultural identity and the influence of colonialism and dependency on artistic production in the region are examined. The article highlights debates on the characteristics of Latin American art in relation to international trends and the impact of the avant-garde on the consolidation of critical discourses. It argues that art criticism of the time not only addressed artistic concerns but also functioned as a space for political and cultural reflection, within a context of profound social and geopolitical changes.