Manifesta purposely strives to keep its distance from what are often seen as the dominant centres of artistic production, instead seeking fresh and fertile terrain for the mapping of a new cultural topography.

Manifesta 15 Barcelona will be taking place in Barcelona and 11 surrounding metropolitan cities

Manuel Chavajay, GT

Manuel Chavajay is a contemporary Tz’utujil Maya artist. His practice is influenced by the consequences and aftermaths of armed conflicts, addressing indigenous identity and language as well as socio-economic and environmental concerns. Working through a wide range of media, including painting, sculpture and video, his creations serve not only as expressions of cultural richness, but also as powerful forces for change, inspiring a collective responsibility to preserve and cherish the sacred landscapes and traditions that define the Tz’utujil Maya legacy. His work has been shown at the 35 Bienal de São Paulo (Brazil); National Gallery of Canada (Canada); Kunsthalle Wien Museumplatz (Austria); Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (USA); Centre Pompidou (France); Bienal Internacional de SIART (Bolivia); Bienal de Curitiba (Brazil) and La Bienal de Artes Visuales del Istmo Centroamericano (Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and El Salvador), to name a few. His works are part of the collections of the Museo de Arte Fundación Ortíz-Gurdián, León, Nicaragua; Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid; Inter-American Development Bank, USA; and National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Canada, among others.