America once prided itself as a melting pot of people and cultures, although now that sentiment seems isolated to more progressive areas like Athens. Even so, the immigrant experience has always been an isolating one—creating a new life often much different than the old one, and seeking community where language barriers can be frustrating. But where words lack, there is so much that can be shared, human to human, through art and music.
Colombian artist and musician Juancho Cano’s exhibition “FRAGMENTARIO: Visions in Pieces,” on view at Athentic Brewing Co., features two sets of paintings: one created while living in Colombia and the other created since moving to the United States. Cano—who was an artist, musician and community worker in Colombia—moved to Athens with his wife, Casa de Amistad Executive Director Hanna O’Connell, and daughter about three years ago. The process of obtaining a visa was a long and difficult one that took five years and periods of separation for the family, but now Cano is opening up and sharing himself with his new community in Athens.
The exhibition as a whole is steeped in representations of the heritage and culture of Pasto, the indigenous and mountainous southern region of Colombia where Cano is from. The pieces reflect the bright colors and unique characters of Pasto’s annual Carnaval de Negros y Blancos, a festival and parade that has been part of the region’s identity since 1546.
In the Colombian set of paintings, the Andean devil is a prominent element, with one painting in particular illustrating this character. Cano explains this devil is very different from the fearful devil of the Catholic religion; this is a protector figure from folklore that cares for the water sources and the mountains. One of Cano’s more recent works reveals a face made out of different elements of sound. He was thinking about this painting in terms of music and making the viewer feel how sound is translated through the undulations of color and movement through depth.
“It is not a linear representation of Carnaval. It has the essence of Carnaval, but whatever it is, it is a contemporary expression. The first part of the exhibition, which is what I did in Colombia, has a strong heritage of my culture [but] it is a very contemporary representation of how I see my roots. The second part I take this a little further, more definition with a little more marked style, let’s say with a more current vision of this heritage,” says Cano.
These characters and colors have been a part of Cano’s artistic identity for a long time, following him to the United States, where they began to fragment, he says. Through this exhibition, he’s able to visually represent the fragmentation of the part of him that stayed in Colombia and the part that continues on here. However, there are even more elements to Cano’s story that he plans to showcase at an event tied to the exhibition featuring music, stage art and videos on Saturday, June 7. Each element is a compliment to one another.
“My show, which is also scenic in some way, [incorporates] body movement, and this is also complemented by some sculpture elements that are on the stage. So that set of elements is what makes the complete show. My show has a Carnaval essence, but it is not Carnaval music either. Although it is not sad, I cannot say it is party music. It is hip hop that makes you think a little about what is happening in life and in society. It’s a little critical,” says Cano.
Cano’s musical performance will be aided by pre-recorded tracks made with his colleagues and friends Martín Guzmán, Andrés Guerrero and the band BAMBARABANDA in Colombia while he was preparing to move, so that he would not be left alone. Cano and his friends formed BAMBARABANDA 25 years ago. The band explores the music of the region and of Carnaval while adding a fusion of world music elements, like punk, rock, ska and jazz.
“Next to this was all of the work that we did with the community with the band, that was not only a musical group or an artistic collective, but it was a group that also cared a lot about progress in our society, about our identity, about our culture and about work to strengthen the cultural identity of our youth. All of that in some way directly influences my personal show,” says Cano.
This is the first opportunity Cano has had to present his full one-man show featuring all of the artistic and musical elements working together. He says that he’s happy to share these pieces of himself and his heritage with Athens as he continues to introduce himself and find community here. And one day, maybe his own band to add to the rich musical tapestry of Athens.
WHO: Juancho Cano
WHEN: Saturday, June 7, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Athentic Brewing Co.
HOW MUCH: FREE!
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