Alvaro Barrington approaches art as an encounter, shaped by personal history, community, and cultural narratives. His exhibition Uncle A / Eat the Cake, created specially for the 2025 edition of Engadin Art Talks and set in the San Bastiaun chapel in Zuoz, reflects on religion, consumerism, and American identity. Drawing from sources as varied as the life of Jesus and Tupac’s poetry, he explores how trauma and resilience shape social structures. In conversation with Hans Ulrich Obrist, Barrington discussed his commitment to public art, particularly through Notting Hill Carnival, where he transforms painting into a collective experience, dissolving hierarchies. He emphasized the importance of taking art beyond galleries, into spaces where people naturally gather. Reflecting on the future — including AI, video games, and cultural shifts — he suggested that younger generations will radically reshape norms in ways we cannot yet predict. His optimism lies in their ability to solve problems and redefine identity and belonging.
“Every invention comes with violence and disruption. The nation-state did. Religion did. AI will too. But just as someone will use it for harm, someone else will use it to save lives.”
— Alvaro Barrington
