Amalia Pica

Born in Argentinian Patagonia and trained in Buenos Aires and Amsterdam, Amalia Pica lives and works in London. The political and social situation experienced in her country of origin during the military dictatorship (1976–83), when thousands of people were imprisoned and murdered with impunity for their political dissent, is central to her art and ideas. Her installations, sculptures and projections raise questions about language, communication and community participation, and are invariably at the service of social protest. Pica strives to distance protest from conflict and violence, with works that incorporate a sense of partying and collective celebration. With heightened colour and seemingly simple materials, the elements she incorporates connect directly with the universal imaginary of the party. Thus, confetti, bunting and other supposedly ‘poor’ elements become catalysts in a forceful vindication of social justice. Pica also incorporates mathematical models to construct metaphors about communication, repression and shared experience.