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Se habla español is an initiative to bridge a gap between LACE and audiences that have cultural relationships to Spanish, a common language in Los Angeles. Se habla español is a commitment to create temporary multilingual spaces at LACE through specific actions such as walk-throughs, workshops, translated exhibition texts, and art practices exploring issues of language. LACE intends to challenge a monolingual system operating in art institutions, provoking a critical conversation that diversifies points of view around art.
LACE has facilitated multilingual spaces through its exhibition history — Ana Mendieta’s bilingual retrospective in 1989, BAW/TAF Border Art Workshop in 1991, documenting seven years of interdisciplinary art projects surrounding issues between Mexico and U.S., and Customizing Language (2015), examining how language reflects geopolitical realities. More recent projects are Destino Elei vía Tiyei (2019), an archival show that highlights the collaborative and experimental spirit of LACE; Unraveling Collective Forms (2019), a bilingual exhibition that looks to create a space to gather, remember, learn, and connect with the audience through a common thread. Continuing (in) this history, Se habla español aims to establish sustainable, bilingual content and accessibility.
Se habla español is rooted in the concept of language justice that recognizes cultural implications of preserving diverse idioms and resisting the dominance of one language over others. LACE has collaborated with different interpreters among them Antena, which is a language justice project that has inspired our own programming.
Se habla español was founded by Daniela Lieja Quintanar and Andrew Freire in 2017. In May 2020, Juan Manuel Silverio joined the project.
Check out Se habla español programming, content, and more!
Exhibitions
Gemidos de la Tierra (Wailing of the Land/Soil) (2023)
Intergalactix: against isolation/contra el aislamiento (2021)
Ser todo Es ser parte / To Be Whole Is To Be Part (2020)
Destino Elei vía Tiyei (2019)
Unraveling Collective Forms (2019)
Jimena Sarno: home away from (2017)
El Teatro Campesino (2017)
Customizing Language (2015)
Publications
Customizing Language (2015)
Border Art Workshop: Destinación L.A. (1991)
Support for Se habla español is provided by The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
