Juan Pablo Baene

Artist Statement

The Dance of the Coyongos is based on a folkloric dance that has the same name and originates from the Monpox region in Colombia. Dating back to 1812 after Colombian independence, the dance is now part of the carnival in Barranquilla, the second largest carnival after Rio. Involving several characters, the dance brings forward clear environmental and political meaning.

In the dance, there are the Coyongos: giant dancing bird puppets that represent the wader birds from the region and symbolically represent the indigenous and Black communities as well as the Criollos.* There is also the hunter, representing Spanish colonialism, who wears a hat and carries a gun. And then there is the fish who represents the land, resilience, and survival.        

-Juan Pablo Baene

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