Residency period: August-September 2012
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, in a political refugee family from Chile, Paula Urbano was raised within two cultures and speaking two languages simultaneously. This situation led her to feel that she didn’t belong to either culture. Paula Urbano turned this feeling of unbelonging into the orbit of her artistic investigation, examining the gap between her self-awarenesss and others’ point of veiw. Through language, Urbano explores the construction of cultural identity .
The artist uses use fiction and non-fiction elements strategically to tell stories about how someone’s life history is consequence of both socio-political events and coincidence. Race, gender, sexuality, social status and exile are all recurring themes in her work.
Paula Urbano lives and works in Stockholm and has participated in group shows at museums, institutions and private galleries in Stockholm, Stavanger, Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile and Miami.
