Life Is a Barranquilla Carnival: Opening Reception

The exhibition Life Is a Barranquilla Carnival brings a sample of Colombia’s largest cultural festival to South Florida. Declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, in 2003, it was granted this significant proclamation for its cultural richness, centuries-old traditions, dances, and music, and for its role as a symbol of identity for the Colombian Caribbean.

The show features a collection of photographs by León Birbragher Vinkel (1940-2022) and acknowledges his contribution to documenting this valuable cultural repository. For more than 30 years, he photographed the main events and folkloric expressions of the Barranquilla Carnival, including dances, masquerades, and individual costumes. Through his lens, he captured the heart and soul of his fellow carnavaleros, with whom he shared the passion for the celebration. The show also features original costumes, videos, and music, providing a multisensory experience that offers a taste of this vibrant annual celebration rooted in ancestral customs and community identity, blending African, Indigenous, and European traditions.

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Host or Publisher Coral Gables Museum