Collective Reticulárea: Communal Cartographies by LA ESCUELA___

Collective Reticulárea: Communal Cartographies reinterprets the artistic and pedagogical legacy of Venezuelan-German artist Gego in a contemporary context. Conceived by Miguel Braceli and developed by LA ESCUELA___ in partnership with Fundación Gego and Sala Mendoza, this participatory project engages a network of international artists, educators, and students across Venezuela. The installation was displayed at Sala Mendoza, Caracas, from April 11 to June 1, 2024, offering visitors a spatial experience shaped by collective creativity.

This initiative emphasizes the intersection of art, education, and social practice, transforming the museum space into a living laboratory of collaborative knowledge. By approaching the Reticulárea through communal cartographies, the project moves beyond mere homage to Gego, highlighting the social and educational dimensions of her geometric abstraction.

A Platform for Collective Learning and Artistic Exchange

Curated under the larger “Emeritus: Gego” program, Collective Reticulárea commemorates the 30th anniversary of Gego’s passing. The project explores collaborative artistic practices, addressing questions of mobility, diaspora, and regional bonds through affective ties woven between art and territory.

LA ESCUELA___ serves as a dynamic platform for public engagement, co-creation, and interdisciplinary learning. Founded by Miguel Braceli alongside the Siemens Stiftung, the platform builds on the foundation’s Latin American cultural initiatives while advancing Braceli’s focus on socially engaged art and public interventions.

From Modules to Communal Cartographies

The project’s development began in December 2023 with an international open call, inviting artists, educators, and collaborators linked to Gego’s work. Modules and pieces were created from diverse materials and contexts, reflecting the participants’ local conditions and creative interpretations.

These fragments were integrated into spatial constructions developed by university students from:

• Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas – led by Professor Diego González
• Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida – led by Professor Analy Trejo
• University of Margarita – led by Professors Gustavo Izarra and Amanda Soriano

Through this interdisciplinary and participatory approach, each module became a node within a broader communal cartography, symbolizing both artistic exchange and collaborative learning. Braceli explains that the Reticulárea is approached not as a mimicry but as a symbolic network of expansive forms, where each node functions as a meeting point for dialogue, experimentation, and knowledge-sharing.

Collaborative, Educational, and Social Dimensions

Highlighting Gego’s lesser-known educational and collaborative legacy, the project transforms the Reticulárea into a living social space. By connecting artists and students, both locally and internationally, the installation fosters shared histories, practical engagement, and conceptual learning. Pieces collected through the Goethe-Institut Venezuela and contributions from the Venezuelan diaspora enrich the installation, creating a dynamic network of collective memory and spatial experimentation.

The final installation at Sala Mendoza becomes more than a visual artwork: it represents a communal experience, where learning, creativity, and social bonds converge. Visitors encounter an immersive spatial narrative that celebrates Venezuelan contemporary art, collaborative pedagogy, and public art interventions.

All photographs are works of  Josseline Chalbaud