Firelei Báez’s Exhibition – The Bridge from Multiple Perspectives
Yesterday, I visited the Hauser & Wirth gallery, one of my favorite art spaces in downtown LA, to see what was on. The overall vibe is definitely a lot less “lofty” compared to some other art galleries, with a little oasis of coffee and conversation in the center. The size of the gallery allows you to take in all the artworks without needing a brain break. Plus, you can always find someone new and exciting, like Firelei Báez, whose work left quite a deep impression.
I would describe Báez’s works as quite beginner-friendly for those wanting to get into contemporary art (I mean this in the best way). They are a pleasure to look at, with vibrant colors and intricate details, yet they’re rich in content and historical references. The works provide enough clues for you to uncover the colonial “violence and trauma”1 that lie behind joyful surfaces of florals and glassy figures. They evoke the ways Western media often portrays “exotic travel destinations” while glossing over post-colonial histories that have been obscured or ignored.
Hauser & Wirth gallery
The title of the exhibition, “The fact that it amazes me does not mean I relinquish it”—a quote from Martinican philosopher Édouard Glissant—perfectly encapsulates Báez’s narrative. The artist urges us to look beyond the visual beauty she creates and uncover motifs of colonial oppression, such as tignons and the image of Sans-Souci2. Additionally, Glissant’s advocacy for embracing the complexities of identity, culture, and history in the context of colonialism and globalization resonates beautifully with Báez’s work.
In an interview3, Báez discussed how her identity as an Afro-Caribbean woman who has spent most of her life in the U.S. shapes her artistic practice. Through her art, she bridges two worlds by encouraging acknowledgment and understanding of complex histories and their legacies.
“The fact that it amazes me does not mean I relinquish it” is on view at Hauser & Wirth in downtown Los Angeles until January 5, 2025. For those lucky enough to be in the area, visiting Báez’s exhibition is highly recommended. To learn more about the artist and the exhibition, read more here
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