Voladores

Dance of the flying men

Kike Arnal

Voladores is an artistic initiative that links the work of photographer Kike Arnal with one of the most antique and extraordinary traditions of the American continent: the human fliers. Although it is a syncretic ritual between indigenous and catholic elements, its essence has survived almost untouched to the present day. In this ritual the fliers harvest the tree, they plant it as a pole from which they fly and dance as an offering to the patron saint praying faithfully for fertility, and water abundance.
During dozens of trips to patron saint’s festivities of the Sierra de Puebla, Arnal established a close bond with the dancers that allowed him to capture the spirit of the tradition. In environmental portraits he manages to communicate the commitment and dedication of each participant; the devotion, family and community bonding, the dignity with which each stage of this tradition is performed. The black-and-white images open the possibility to imagine what can not be seen, they evoke the music, the rhythm, the breath of an encounter between daily existence and divinity.

Events

19.Oct 11:00 am

Curator's tour (in Englisch)

The curator Ximena de la Macorra guides through the exhibition.

Address

Kunstraum Bethanien / Studio 1 Mariannenplatz 2 10997 Berlin

Free admission

20.Oct 8:30 pm

Making of Voladores (in English)

Curator's talk

More than four years, the photographer Kike Arnal has documented the dance of the flying men in the Sierra Norte in the state of Puebla. Ximena de la Macorra, who accompanied the photographer from the beginning, presents the project and tells of artistic challenges and memorable moments.

Address

Kunstraum Bethanien / Studio 1 Mariannenplatz 2 10997 Berlin

Registration required

Free admission

26.Oct 11:00 am

Magical villages in the state of Puebla

Lecture

In his lecture the Minister of Tourism will take you on a journey to the magical villages in the state of Puebla. It offers architectural gems of the colonial era, which impress with their baroque beauty. On each day of the year you can discover there one of the 365 baroque churches. Sponsored by Air Berlin.

Address

Kunstraum Bethanien / Studio 1 Mariannenplatz 2 10997 Berlin

Registration required

Free admission

29.Oct 5:00 pm

Curator`s Tour (in English)

The curator Ximena de la Macorra guides through the exhibition.

Address

Kunstraum Bethanien / Studio 1 Mariannenplatz 2 10997 Berlin

Free admission

30.Oct 5:00 pm

Curator`s Tour (in English)

The curator Ximena de la Macorra guides through the exhibition.

Address

Kunstraum Bethanien / Studio 1 Mariannenplatz 2 10997 Berlin

Free admission