A bicentennial without the Eiffel Tower? Unthought of. It is something equivalent that is about to happen in Argentina. In the midst of the chaos of the strikes, of the cacerolazos (concerts of pots and pans), road blocks and meetings on the Plaza de Mayo, that accompany the tug of war between president Cristina Kirchner and the agricultural world, an anniversary went by unnoticed. The Colón theater–one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world, with revered acoustics – was closed to celebrate its centenary, last 25 May. The restoration works were not finished on time. Well-informed persons have gone so far as to question its inauguration in 2010, for the bicentennial of the independence. An ambitious exhibition, planed for the same date and which studies the French influence on Argentine architecture in the 1900s, could be at risk as well. But it is in moments of difficulty that a country seems to have the genius to find unexpected resources . As proof of this, two of its most dynamic museums were inaugurated in 2001, the year of the great crisis: the MACLA (Museum of contemporary art of La Plata) and the MALBA (Museum of Latin-American Art of Buenos Aires). The latter has just celebrated its two millionth visitor and is hosting since 19 June a major exhibition on Mexican art from 1968 to 1998. This is proof of its local success and its role at the level of the continent. And a way of placing Argentina on the map otherwise than with wine, tango and football…

The website of the MALBA
The website of the MACLA


Tags Argentina strikes Colón Cristina+Kirchner MALBA MACLA tango wine football