Mining Colombian contemporary art: histories, scales and techniques of gold extraction

Gold is not only a witness to Colombia's history, but a fundamental actor in its religious, cultural, social, and economic landscapes. This article explores different moments in the history of gold mining in the country through the lens of contemporary artists working within their local context. Articulating a distinct visual language, each selected artwork crystallises three characteristic elements of this extractive practice: a historical moment, a scale and a technique. The works act as sensible horizons that uncover the precious metal as a microcosm of Colombia.

Acknowledgments
I would like thank Acción Cultural Española and lugar a dudas in Cali, who made this research possible. I am also grateful to Mauricio Rivera Henao, Luna Aymara de los Ríos Agudelo, Heidi and Rolf Eugenio Abderhalden Cortés, and Clemencia Echeverri for their generous contribution to this research.