Introduction to the Artist Representing El Salvador in Its Inaugural Venice Biennale Pavilion

This spring, El Salvador makes history by presenting a pavilion at the Venice Biennale for the first time during the festival’s 61st iteration from May 9 to November 22. J. Oscar Molina, a Salvadoran painter and sculptor born in 1971 and now based in Southampton, New York, is chosen as the country’s inaugural pavilion artist. His solo exhibition, “Cartographies of the Displaced,” features 15 to 18 abstract sculptures from his “Children of the World” series, symbolizing figures in motion.

This participation occurs amid allegations of human rights abuses in El Salvador linked to President Nayib Bukele’s “war against gangs.” Molina’s pavilion sidesteps political discourse, focusing on the “migrant experience,” inspired by his own displacement during El Salvador’s civil war. He aims to foster “patience and compassion for newcomers,” reflecting on his migration journey.

Molina recalls his forced evacuation from his family farm and subsequent displacement. At 16, he fled to the US with his brother Abel, traversing the desert with a group. Settling in Southampton, Molina founded a stone masonry business and later pursued art full-time, incorporating his migration narrative. He opened a contemporary art gallery in 2022, and his work has been showcased in both El Salvador and the US.

The Venice Biennale pavilion was commissioned by Astrid Bahamond Panamá, National Director of El Salvador’s Ministry of Culture, and curated by Alejandra Cabezas. Cabezas emphasizes the pavilion’s role in highlighting the complexity and rigor of Salvadoran artistry, promoting transnational identity, migration, and displacement. The Venice Biennale has not yet officially confirmed Molina’s participation, but several countries have already announced their artists. Molina’s exhibition aspires to address universal themes and build a sense of brotherhood, transcending political divides.