José Vera Matos

In José Vera Matos works, language and writing are central themes that reflect on their role as tools of conquest and domination during the colonization of the Americas. However, Vera Matos also explores how language and writing became means of resistance against colonialism throughout history. His selected texts examine various aspects of the impact of the conquest on the Americas and the consequences and phenomena that resulted from the violent clash between the two cultures.

Vera Matos' images use columns of text that make direct reference to the Spanish language and language more broadly as instruments of domination and control. The geometric elements and patterns found throughout pre-Columbian iconography visually affect these columns. They represent the forced imposition of a new way of thinking, while the use of tiered and trapezoidal pre-Columbian patterns found in Incan tocapus, Tiwanaku pottery, and Paracas textiles serve to manifest rejection and opposition to Spanish culture.

José Vera Matos (1981) lives and works in Lima, Perú. His recent solo show at the MALI-Museo de Arte de Lima was met with critical acclaim, solidifying his position as a major figure in the contemporary art scene.

Vera Matos' work has been exhibited at prestigious institutions around the world, including the Milan Triennial in Italy, the Fondation Cartier pour l'art Contemporain in Paris, Sala Alcalá in Madrid, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen, and the Museo del Barrio in New York. He has also showcased his art at the Nordenhake Gallery, among other renowned venues.

Notably, Vera Matos' pieces have been acquired by esteemed collections such as the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid, Thyssen Bornemisza in Madrid, Fondation Cartier pour l'art Contemporain in Paris, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen, and the MALI – Museo de Arte de Lima.

In recognition of his artistic achievements, Vera Matos was recently selected to be featured in Phaidon's Vitamin D3: Today's Best in Contemporary Drawing.