A man wearing bright green lizard feet and hands greets a white silhouette of a person with a partial human skeleton drawn in red inside him. The white figure has a velvet hat and a lance, both colored red. To the left behind the figures is the white outline of an intestine. To the right are colorful drawings of animals including fish, butterflies, insects, and a bird. A man wearing bright green lizard feet and hands greets a white silhouette of a person with a partial human skeleton drawn in red inside him. The white figure has a velvet hat and a lance, both colored red. To the left behind the figures is the white outline of an intestine. To the right are colorful drawings of animals including fish, butterflies, insects, and a bird.

This exhibition analyzes representations of the Americas, questioning the mythologies and utopian visions that proliferated after the arrival of Europeans to the continent. Featuring artistic interventions by Denilson Baniwa, an Indigenous contemporary artist from the Amazon region of Brazil, and the voices of local community groups in Los Angeles, Reinventing the Américas counters the views of European chroniclers, illustrators, and printmakers from the 16th to 19th centuries by offering a multi-perspectival approach.

This exhibition is presented in English and Spanish.

Esta exhibición se presenta en inglés y en español.

SELECTED WORKS

A black and white engraving shows a man holding a banner with a cross and an astrolabe. A naked woman with an ornamental covering of the head made out of feathers sits on a hammock greeting him. To the right is an anteater on the ground and a sloth climbing a tree. In the background is a scene of cannibalism with three people roasting parts of a body in a fire. On the left are two ships in the ocean.

The Discovery of America, about 1591, Philippe Galle and Johannes Stradanus. Engraving from the series Nova Reperta. Getty Research Institute, 2020.PR.2

The front page of a book depicts four women around the title text. The woman on top sits under a trellis and is elegantly dressed. The woman on the bottom is naked and lying down. She wears a headdress and has a human head in her hand. Next to her is a bust of a woman with fire on the pedestal. The woman to the left of the title wears a yellow dress and holds a smoking urn. The woman to the right is covered by a red cloth.

Theater of the Orb of the World. Hand-colored engraving. From Abraham Ortelius, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Antwerp, 1603), title page. Getty Research Institute, 2579-126

A black and white illustration shows fruits and trees including sugar cane, papaya, pepper, and indigo. In the background are mountains and a large body of water.

Trees and fruits grown in Brazil. Etching and engraving. From Johan Nieuhof, Gedenkweerdige Brasiliaense Zee-en-Lant-Reize, 1640–1649 (Amsterdam, 1682), between pp. 200 and 201. Getty Research Institute, 84-B22312

A black and white illustration in a book depicts a man and a woman with a baby. The three of them are naked. The man holds a bow and arrow. A pineapple and a plate with two mangos are by his feet. In the background is a hammock.

Indigenous family with fruits and artifacts. Woodcut. From Jean de Léry, Historia Navigationis in Brasiliam Quae et America Dicitur (Geneva, 1594), p. 90. Getty Research Institute, 93-B9418

A black and white illustration shows the figure of a demon atop a pedestal in a large room. The figure has the feet of a goat, a human face on its torso, and wings. Surrounding it are people kneeling and making offerings.

Viztlipuztli, Idol of the Mexicans. Etching and engraving. From Arnoldus Montanus, De nieuwe en onbekende weereld (Amsterdam, 1671), between pp. 220 and 221. Getty Research Institute, 93-B9309

An Indigenous man is shown in profile from the chest up. He wears a headdress with red and green feathers and a crown made with animal teeth. He has two necklaces, one blue and one pink in the shape of the letter v

Chief Bororo. Hand-colored lithograph. From Comte [Francis] de Castelnau, Expédition dans les parties centrales de l'Amérique du Sud (Paris, 1850), pl. 12. Getty Research Institute, 91-B21393

A color illustration shows two Indigenous men standing on a street paved with gray stones. They wear textiles with black and white geometric forms. To their right are two animal skins, probably from jaguars, and a big duster made out of black and white feathers. Behind them is a store selling horseback riding equipment like stirrups and whips.

Pampa Indians. Hand-colored etching and aquatint. Emeric Essex Vidal, Picturesque Illustrations of Buenos Ayres and Monte Video (London, 1820), p. 53. Getty Research Institute, 84-B21706

A color landscape shows a mountain with snow at the peak and clear blue sky. The landscape surrounding the mountain looks desertic. In the foreground to the left are a group of llamas and to the right a group of local people. In the forefront are cacti of different shapes, rocks, and an agave plant.

Chimborazo Seen from the Plain of Tapia, Louis Bouquet. Engraving from Alexander von Humboldt, Vues des Cordillères, et monumens des peuples indigènes de l'Amérique (Paris, 1810), between pp. 200 and 201. Getty Research Institute, 85-B1535

A man wearing bright green lizard feet and hands greets a white silhouette of a person with a partial human skeleton drawn in red inside him. The white figure has a velvet hat, a knife, a lance, and boots, all in red. To the right behind them is a group of conquistadors. To the left is a group of men and women kneeling and offering weapons and fruits. At the center superimposed on the image is the white outline of an intestine.

The Celebration of the Lizard, 2022, Denilson Baniwa. Digital intervention on Columnam à Praefecto prima navigation locatam venerantur Floridenses (Column in Honor of the First Voyage to Florida) (detail), from Jacques de Morgues Le Moyne (French, ca. 1533–before 1588), Brevis narratio eorum quae in Florida Americæ provincia Gallis acciderunt (Frankfurt, 1591), pl. 8, Getty Research Institute, 87-B24110. Courtesy the artist

A naked woman with feathers on her head holds a spear in one hand and a human head in the other. Her hair is very long and wavy. Next to her feet is a parrot and a detached human arm. Behind her, painted in red over the illustration, are line drawings of geometric shapes. In the same manner is the white outline of a lizard drawn over the limbs on the ground, a bird drawn in white on top of the parrot, a round shape drawn on top of the human head, and a white outline of lungs and intestines on top of the woman’s body. The original print has the word “America” printed at the top of the illustration, and the words “No more” have been inserted on top.

No More America, 2022, Denilson Baniwa. Digital intervention on Allegory of America, from Philippe Galle, with verses by Cornelis Kiliaan, Prosopographia ([Antwerp?], 1600s), pl. 43. Getty Research Institute, 94-B3364. Courtesy the artist

An Indigenous man is shown in profile from the chest up. He wears a headdress with red and green feathers and a crown made with animal teeth. He has two necklaces, one blue and one pink in the shape of the letter v
A color illustration shows two Indigenous men standing on a street paved with gray stones. They wear textiles with black and white geometric forms. To their right are two animal skins, probably from jaguars, and a big duster made out of black and white feathers. Behind them is a store selling horseback riding equipment like stirrups and whips.
A color landscape shows a mountain with snow at the peak and clear blue sky. The landscape surrounding the mountain looks desertic. In the foreground to the left are a group of llamas and to the right a group of local people. In the forefront are cacti of different shapes, rocks, and an agave plant.
A man wearing bright green lizard feet and hands greets a white silhouette of a person with a partial human skeleton drawn in red inside him. The white figure has a velvet hat, a knife, a lance, and boots, all in red. To the right behind them is a group of conquistadors. To the left is a group of men and women kneeling and offering weapons and fruits. At the center superimposed on the image is the white outline of an intestine.
A naked woman with feathers on her head holds a spear in one hand and a human head in the other. Her hair is very long and wavy. Next to her feet is a parrot and a detached human arm. Behind her, painted in red over the illustration, are line drawings of geometric shapes. In the same manner is the white outline of a lizard drawn over the limbs on the ground, a bird drawn in white on top of the parrot, a round shape drawn on top of the human head, and a white outline of lungs and intestines on top of the woman’s body. The original print has the word “America” printed at the top of the illustration, and the words “No more” have been inserted on top.
A black and white engraving shows a man holding a banner with a cross and an astrolabe. A naked woman with an ornamental covering of the head made out of feathers sits on a hammock greeting him. To the right is an anteater on the ground and a sloth climbing a tree. In the background is a scene of cannibalism with three people roasting parts of a body in a fire. On the left are two ships in the ocean.
The front page of a book depicts four women around the title text. The woman on top sits under a trellis and is elegantly dressed. The woman on the bottom is naked and lying down. She wears a headdress and has a human head in her hand. Next to her is a bust of a woman with fire on the pedestal. The woman to the left of the title wears a yellow dress and holds a smoking urn. The woman to the right is covered by a red cloth.
A black and white illustration shows fruits and trees including sugar cane, papaya, pepper, and indigo. In the background are mountains and a large body of water.
A black and white illustration in a book depicts a man and a woman with a baby. The three of them are naked. The man holds a bow and arrow. A pineapple and a plate with two mangos are by his feet. In the background is a hammock.
A black and white illustration shows the figure of a demon atop a pedestal in a large room. The figure has the feet of a goat, a human face on its torso, and wings. Surrounding it are people kneeling and making offerings.
An Indigenous man is shown in profile from the chest up. He wears a headdress with red and green feathers and a crown made with animal teeth. He has two necklaces, one blue and one pink in the shape of the letter v
A color illustration shows two Indigenous men standing on a street paved with gray stones. They wear textiles with black and white geometric forms. To their right are two animal skins, probably from jaguars, and a big duster made out of black and white feathers. Behind them is a store selling horseback riding equipment like stirrups and whips.
A color landscape shows a mountain with snow at the peak and clear blue sky. The landscape surrounding the mountain looks desertic. In the foreground to the left are a group of llamas and to the right a group of local people. In the forefront are cacti of different shapes, rocks, and an agave plant.
A man wearing bright green lizard feet and hands greets a white silhouette of a person with a partial human skeleton drawn in red inside him. The white figure has a velvet hat, a knife, a lance, and boots, all in red. To the right behind them is a group of conquistadors. To the left is a group of men and women kneeling and offering weapons and fruits. At the center superimposed on the image is the white outline of an intestine.
A naked woman with feathers on her head holds a spear in one hand and a human head in the other. Her hair is very long and wavy. Next to her feet is a parrot and a detached human arm. Behind her, painted in red over the illustration, are line drawings of geometric shapes. In the same manner is the white outline of a lizard drawn over the limbs on the ground, a bird drawn in white on top of the parrot, a round shape drawn on top of the human head, and a white outline of lungs and intestines on top of the woman’s body. The original print has the word “America” printed at the top of the illustration, and the words “No more” have been inserted on top.
A black and white engraving shows a man holding a banner with a cross and an astrolabe. A naked woman with an ornamental covering of the head made out of feathers sits on a hammock greeting him. To the right is an anteater on the ground and a sloth climbing a tree. In the background is a scene of cannibalism with three people roasting parts of a body in a fire. On the left are two ships in the ocean.
The front page of a book depicts four women around the title text. The woman on top sits under a trellis and is elegantly dressed. The woman on the bottom is naked and lying down. She wears a headdress and has a human head in her hand. Next to her is a bust of a woman with fire on the pedestal. The woman to the left of the title wears a yellow dress and holds a smoking urn. The woman to the right is covered by a red cloth.
A black and white illustration shows fruits and trees including sugar cane, papaya, pepper, and indigo. In the background are mountains and a large body of water.
A black and white illustration in a book depicts a man and a woman with a baby. The three of them are naked. The man holds a bow and arrow. A pineapple and a plate with two mangos are by his feet. In the background is a hammock.
A black and white illustration shows the figure of a demon atop a pedestal in a large room. The figure has the feet of a goat, a human face on its torso, and wings. Surrounding it are people kneeling and making offerings.
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The Discovery of America, about 1591, Philippe Galle and Johannes Stradanus. Engraving from the series Nova Reperta. Getty Research Institute, 2020.PR.2

NEWS & STORIES

Revitalizing Indigenous Traditions

How Meztli Projects teaches healing and self-determination through art

Meet Denilson Baniwa

The Indigenous artist reimagines colonial images of Latin America

10 Songs That Have Defined the Americas

Music keeps reinventing ideas about the continents

VIDEO

I Am Denilson

Watch how Denilson Baniwa created art for this exhibition

Yo Soy Denilson

Vea cómo Denilson Baniwa creó el arte para esta exposición

Eu Sou Denilson

Veja como Denilson Baniwa criou a arte para esta exposição

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September 1, 2022–January 5, 2023
(Note: no tours on September 22, 29, November 24, and December 29)

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EXHIBITION DOCUMENTATION

Exhibition checklist (English and Spanish)

Complete gallery wall texts (English and Spanish)

Press Release

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