Art For Everyone

Hello everyone, my name is Manuel Caceres, I am a freshman international photography student at Wichita State University. A group of classmates and myself went to Paraguay to document and assist in a great art event, the First Asuncion Biennial. We were there for a little more than 2 weeks working for our “Photography Abroad: Paraguay’” class, in between September 22 and October 8. One of the main characteristics of The First Asuncion Biennial was the variety of artist and type of artwork that could be seen and appreciated by anyone who had the privilege of assisting to the biennial. In our time in Paraguay, we were able to photograph many artists and their work, all of them very professionals, which includes from street art like murals, to installations in buildings like malls, banks, art galleries, and even abandoned hotels. We also were able to photograph the big biennial’s opening that was a beautiful night of celebration with music and dance performances. I want to share with you some of the photos that I was able to capture in our time in Paraguay. I hope you will enjoy it.

Biennial Opening at ''Centro Cultural de la República, El Cabildo''. "Generacion" group from Villarrica, Paraguay.

 Biennial Opening. Bottle dancer.

Biennial Opening. Guests: Benito Caceres, WSU Professor Jenifer Ray, Marta Talavera, Mariah Drussel, and the clowns.

One of the days, we were photographing the work of street artists in a very little community called ''Chaco'i'', which is located on the other side of the ''Paraguay'' river, across the Asuncion Port. Residents of the community were so happy to have artist visiting the area and painting some beautiful murals on the wall of abandoned buildings.  

 Artist Bruno Revitte (Smoky) from Brasil.

 Artist Bianca Revitte from Brasil.

 Artist Bruno Revitte (Smoky) from Brasil.

 Mural made by artist Bruno Revitte from Brasil.

 Artist Daniel (Skull) from Brasil.

Residents of Chaco'i village.

 Residents of Chaco'i village.

Mural at the Asuncion Port.

 Mural made by artist Ledania from Colombia.

 Artist Ledania from Colombia.

 Art Installation in the ''BNF'' bank.

 Sculpture made by artist Luis Otero from Cuba.

 Artist Luis Otero and visitors.

 Artist Luis Otero from Cuba.

In my last day in Paraguay I had the privilege of photographing and enjoying the photographs made by WSU Professor Larry Schwarm. Larry is known for photographing natural disasters like fire and hurricanes. Larry's work was displayed in ''Viedma Arte'' gallery.

Gladly, I also found Javier Medina's work, a Paraguayan photographer who photographed objects that he found inside of the ''Ycua Bolaños'' supermarket; which in August 1, 2004 caught fire causing the death of over three hundred people.