Defend the Sacred

Defend the Sacred offered visitors an exploration of spiritual heritage through the lens of BIPOC photographers from across the Americas. It navigated essential themes such as family, gender, spirituality, land, and language, allowing each artist to share their personal experience with the sacred.

The exhibition featured works that both challenge cultural erasure and celebrate the diverse perspectives, values, and experiences passed on through generations. It positioned photography as a powerful tool for cultural preservation and resistance, aiming to spark dialogue, deepen understanding, and foster reflection on the varied expressions of cultural sanctity across BIPOC communities.

Through its visual narratives, Defend the Sacred invited viewers to contemplate the shared and individual dimensions of sacredness, and engage with the complex and profound ways in which these artists interpret and honor the sacred in their lives, highlighting the critical importance of cultural transmission for future generations.

Artists: Leland Butler, Elio Cunampio, Abdellah Hamouma, Leonard Harmon, Rita Harper, Viktor Maco, Nixon Andy Narvaez, Guadalupe Rodriguez.

Guest Curator: Viktor Maco

Defend the Sacred was on view at Welcome as part of the FotoFocus Biennial, October 5 through November 9, 2024.