What does a land of friends look like?

The BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, England, presents a solo show on Carolina Caycedo, subtitled Land of Friends, from 28 May. The artist was born in 1978 to Colombian parents and now lives in Los Angeles. In her works, she deals with issues of common goods, environmental justice, the energy transition as well as cultural and ecological biodiversity. Caycedo's artistic and political work is based on field studies in communities that are negatively affected by infrastructural change and extraction projects. The intention behind her art is to encourage viewers to reflect on the destructive growth rate of capitalism and the corresponding resistance and solidarity needed. Her work is thus intended to contribute to the building of an ecological memory and to open up a fundamental space for climate and social justice.

Caycedo focuses on performance, photography and video art, of which the BALTIC now outlines the last twenty creative years in her first survey exhibition in Europe. Carolina Caycedo – Land of Friends shows her commissioned work inspired by the River Tyne, which expands on her ongoing River Book series, and sets it alongside other series by the artist. These include Be Dammed (2012 - ongoing), a multimedia project that explores the impact of dams and other large infrastructure projects on communities and the environment. The solo show is scheduled to run until 29 January 2023.

The BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead near Newcastle upon Tyne in eastern England is housed in a large converted mill with a minimalist interior. It regularly presents temporary exhibitions of contemporary artists.