Art and Endurance: Reflections on Pérez Art Museum Miami
By Deniz Bora
Last summer, I traveled to Miami with my mother and sister. We love traveling together and experiencing new places, yet, unfortunately, they are less interested in museums than I am. The first thing I do when I visit a new city is to look up the nearest museums; that’s how I found out about Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). So I left behind my travel companions and spent a day at PAMM.
Image of the outside of the Pérez Art Museum Miami. All images courtesy of the writer.
Closeup of the foliage surrounding PAMM’s entrance.
Walking towards the entrance, I realized this museum would be entirely different from those in an urban city. Unlike the familiar Neoclassical facades of the MET or the MFA Boston, PAMM has quite a unique, organic structure. Submerged under greenery and palm trees, it reminds visitors that they are, indeed, in Miami. The museum displays Modern and Contemporary artists from around the world, yet, there is an emphasis on Latin American artists, as it reflects the cultural heritage of Latin America and the African Diaspora in Miami. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about new artists and viewing artworks that reflect Miami’s diversity.
Hulda Guzmán, Under the Flamboyan, 2020. Acrylic gouache on canvas, 47 7/8 x 29 1/2 inches. Miami, PAMM.
I was especially thrilled to find out about Hulda Guzmán. Born in 1984 in Santo Domingo, Guzmán creates gouache paintings that depict the natural beauty of her hometown. Her work Under the Flamboyan immediately attracted my attention with its bright colors and crisply painted figures. The lush greenery in its composition reflects the peace and joy of spending time in nature; I thought it fit well with the natural backdrop of Miami. As someone currently living in Boston, I questioned how much I enjoy nature in an urban city. Guzmán’s painting embodies an ideal natural landscape, specifically the Caribbean, as the artist intends to draw attention to the adverse effects of urbanization in the region. Although the work can be received as lighthearted at first sight, these subcontexts lead the viewer to think about nature more broadly. The humans are depicted on a much smaller scale than the natural landscape, accentuating humanity’s place within the grandeur of the natural world. The scene also depicts how happiness can best be achieved when in harmony with nature. This is also reflected in the museum structure’s cohabitation with its natural surroundings. I choose to read this work from a positive perspective. It captures the endurance of nature and how it sustains and enlivens the world of humans.
Alfredo Jaar, I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On, 2016. Neon, 19 5/8 x 19 5/8 inches. Miami, PAMM.
Another work that impressed me greatly is by the well-known artist Alfredo Jaar, I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On. Jaar was born in Santiago, Chile, in 1956 and currently lives in New York. He frequently uses neon in his works because they are familiar images to the general public. Jaar utilizes neon signs as tools for making social and political statements. They usually address global issues such as war and injustice. Viewing this work alongside other political artworks, however, may limit viewers’ interpretation of his work.
The lines “I Can’t Go On” and “I’ll Go On” speak to the difficulty of finding a will for endurance during difficult times. It is possible for every viewer to relate as it speaks to a common human experience personally. At first glance, the neon light attracts viewers’ attention as the vibrant colors of red and yellow contradict the gravity of the message. With a closer inspection, it can be inferred that the artist is taking on an optimistic attitude in presenting his message. The second part, “I’ll Go On,” is written larger than “I Can’t Go On,” making the eye focus on it more. The sentence captures how hope and hopelessness are intertwined during difficult times, yet, it encourages the idea that even when one loses the will to fight, the choice not to give up is what matters. Despite being quite a simplistic artwork, it left the strongest emotional impact on me as a viewer. Although Jaar intends to speak for the experiences of people who endure pressing issues such as poverty, inequality, and injustice, the work reminded me of moments in my own life when I relied on similar phrases for strength. In times of struggle, the phrase “I’ll go on” becomes almost a mantra that turns into reality the more it is repeated to one’s self. As much as the artwork causes the viewer to dive into their dismal memories, it also infuses hope for endurance. Although everyone’s life struggles differ, Jaar’s work resonates with everyone.
Despite being different stylistically and thematically, these two works impressed me the most during my visit. There are many other artworks in the museum that are as colorful, impactful, and thought-provoking - all valuable examples of Contemporary Latin American art and a reflection of the vibrant cultural scene in Miami. Although visiting a museum is not the first activity that comes to mind for most when in Miami, I strongly recommend planning a day at PAMM and enjoying art with nature in this beautiful city.