Sol Calero: El Autobús

Tate Liverpool presents a new commission by Berlin-based artist Sol Calero (born in Caracas, Venezuela, 1982). Calero’s work takes the form of brightly coloured, large-scale immersive installations that explore themes of representation, identity, displacement and marginalisation, all informed by her own perspective as a migrant.

The artist's work draws upon visual clichés related to the popular image of Latin America. Her paintings and murals are populated by colourful patterns, while her installations have a makeshift quality.

Calero's new commission, El Autobús 2019, is inspired by travelling in Latin America, where richly decorated buses are popular means of transport. For locals, the bus is a necessary part of the daily commute, while tourists use them in pursuit of exotic adventure. Calero explores this tension in an audio-visual installation featuring a guided tour that takes visitors on a journey through an imagined land.

Highlighting the clash between expectations and reality, Calero exposes the privileged position of those who can benefit from the global tourism industry. As she questions cultural misconceptions, she offersan alternative to the western perspective on the world.