Gallery Light at Night – Barranco, Lima

Barranco is the bohemian centre of Lima Peru, full of bars and cafes, art and live music. And on this night, “Barranco en Blanco” , the artists, musicians and performers of all kinds are invited to make the streets their stage.

Noche en Blanco… literally “Night in White”, meaning “open” or ” free” “La Calle es Tuyo” (The Street is yours.)

Barranco was packed with people. I was there with my two good friends, Tim and David. We were determined to add our “grain of artistic salt” to the occasion as well as to soak up the atmosphere as well as a few glasses of Pisco and beer.

The Museum of Contemporary Art

Our first stop was to the MAC, The museum of Contemporary Art, which was viewing a display of avant-garde moving images.

However what grabbed me even more than the exhibits ….. were the shadows and silhouettes drawn by the many visitors as they walked along behind the video screens but in front of the water pools that surround the museum.

And so, here, Ladies and Gentlemen, is my interpretation of the “MAC – Barranco, Noche en Blanco.”

Having spent considerable time there, we then made our way to the centre of Barranco, passing the street artists performing in the streets and squares……..

An impromtu sculpture.

Passing the stages put up in the street……

Passing the giant human effigies…..

Until we found the spot where we too could thrill the crowds with our performance art.

Tim, my performance partner, ready to turn the world upside down with our “brilliant” art.

Tim and I got ready while David, who was our reluctant manager and cameraman supervised the props.

And we did it……….we performed….. and here we would like to officially thank the eight people who kindly watched our contribution to the world of art and drama. (Seven not counting David)

We looked forward to seeing the Passolini like film which David had meticulously filmed. Unfortunately we forgot to ask David to put on the camera lights and so humanity was robbed and will never see this important work we had painstakingly produced.

Me and Tim…… a still frame from the failed video.

Reflectively, we walked past other street performances which indeed had attracted many times more than just seven spectators. David was also in charge of refreshments and brought out to us three cans of beer.

There we stood,….in the street………cans in hand……. while behind us was another form of art……this time an advert for Cuzqueña Beer…….and who should I see, laughing heartily in this enormous billboard….. yes …. there was my daughter Natalie, sitting comfortably with her glass, while we were there standing in the street ….. and she got paid for doing that too!!!!!

Me, David…….. and my daughter Natalie.

So…. that night ….Barranco was robbed of a spectacular piece of performance art. We disappeared into another bar……and David started telling one of his long stories.

David, in full flow!

We soon forgot about our performance, and while “Barranco – Noche en Blanco” continued in full flow around us…… we ordered another round of beers.

Getting late….. Tim bids Barranco farewell with a goodnight kiss.