Federico Cuatlacuatl, an artist originally from Coapan, Cholula, Puebla, Mexico, now based in Virginia, USA, channels his personal experiences as an undocumented immigrant into his art. His artistic journey revolves around exploring the reasons behind the forced displacement of his community and questioning who is accountable. His series “Timekeepers of the Anthropocene,” which was exhibited at the Larnaca Biennale 2023, is a powerful exploration of speculative futurisms rooted in lived experiences, challenging borders and celebrating Nahua resilience. Reflecting on his time in Larnaca, Cuatlacuatl appreciated the Biennale’s ability to activate local sites and encourage community engagement.
Who is artist Federico Cuatlacuatl? Share with us a few things about you and your work in general.
I was born in Coapan, Cholula, Puebla, Mexico and am now based in Virginia, USA. I was brought to the USA as a kid and grew up undocumented, heavily marking my experience and my views as an artist. My work has been this extensive journey of asking critical questions: why was my community forced to self-displace and who is to be accountable for this? Through video productions, sculptures, community facing projects, and collective artistic endeavors, my work explores transborder Nahua futurisms through contemporary diasporic experiences.
Your work ”Timekeepers of the Anthropocene’’ exhibited outdoors in Larnaca center was one of the most viewed works of the Larnaca Biennale 2023. Tell us a few words about it.
This has been an ongoing series of image and video productions, taking place both in Mexico and the US. These productions are heavily rooted in real lived experiences yet are also a construction of a futuristic vision that has never existed. These speculative futurisms envision the defiance of borders, smuggling as resistance, and the celebration of transborder Nahua resilience.
You have visited Larnaca for the opening of the Biennale! What was your overall impression of Larnaca and Larnaca Biennale?
I enjoyed my time in Larnaca during the opening of the Biennale in 2023! I spent a lot of time walking around absorbing the landscape and the textural qualities of the city. It was great to see the curatorial efforts of the Biennale embedded throughout the city, activating local sites and encouraging local engagements.
A message you would like to send to artists that will apply in the future for participation in the Larnaca Biennale.
The Larnaca Biennale has been one of the most fascinating places I have gotten to share my work and I hope other artists feel this same excitement to share their work in Cyprus!
