'El Dorado - Gran Sabana', Lothar Baumgarten

Artwork details

Artist

Lothar Baumgarten (born 1944)

Title

El Dorado - Gran Sabana

Date 1977-85

Medium14 photographs, black and white, on paper and painted wall texts

Dimensionsdisplayed: 1955 x 19890 mm

Collection

Tate

Acquisition Purchased with assistance from the American Fund for the Tate Gallery, courtesy of Edwin C. Cohen and Echoing Green 1990

Reference

T05839

Not on display

Display caption

Baumgarten's father was an anthropologist and the artist's work reflects a concern for the continent of South America and its indigenous populations. Eldorado was the name given by the European conquerors to the mythical city of gold, the object of many futile expeditions. The 'Gran Sabana' of the title relates to the lands of the Indians, the real seat of the natural and cultural wealth of the country. Photographs of this beautiful region are separated by words stencilled onto the walls. These name endangered or extinct animals of the region, printed upside down to indicate mourning. Other words are the names of minerals extracted by mining… (read more)

September 2004