The Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá (Mambo) has abruptly introduced it can substitute its inventive director, Eugenio Viola, who has been within the position for greater than seven years. A spokesperson for the Colombian museum confirmed that it has already begun the seek for Viola’s successor. The establishment first introduced the information on its social media channels, stating that the change was a part of a “complete evaluate”.
“The board of administrators ended my contract early, not resulting from any inventive or management deficiencies,” Viola stated in an announcement to The Artwork Newspaper. “My departure adopted my determination to lift issues with the board in September 2025 relating to the progressive deterioration of working circumstances—issues shared by a number of group members. As a substitute of conducting an inner evaluate, the board dismissed these points and terminated my contract.”
Viola stated that the choice was made public final Friday (6 February) in social media with commenting disabled, stopping any public dialogue concerning the determination. “These actions don’t align with the ideas of transparency, due course of and open change that any cultural establishment ought to uphold,” he says. “I go away with my integrity intact, having acted in good religion, supported my group and persistently maintained moral requirements.”
The museum’s official assertion asserting Viola’s dismissal on 6 February claimed that “on account of the great and ongoing evaluate of the completely different facets that comprise our museum, and all the time with the goal of making certain greatest practices throughout the establishment, the board of administrators of the Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá has determined to terminate its relationship with Mr Eugenio Viola, who will stay with us till Might 2026”. The assertion expressed gratitude to Viola for his contributions to “consolidating the museum as a number one Latin American establishment for modern artwork” and famous that the seek for a brand new inventive director has already begun with the steerage of consultants. “The result of this course of shall be communicated in the end,” the assertion concluded.
Based in 1953, Mambo is one in every of Colombia’s main cultural establishments and has performed a central position in selling trendy and modern artwork within the nation and the area. Viola’s departure comes at a time of inner transition. In recent times, the museum has undergone management adjustments and administrative restructuring aimed toward strengthening its administration mannequin and monetary sustainability because it grapples with most of the similar challenges confronted by many non-public cultural organisations throughout Latin America.
Since taking up as Mambo’s inventive director in 2019, Viola has been concerned in curating greater than 50 exhibitions, a lot of them receiving nationwide and worldwide acclaim. His programme included reveals by the Chilean set up artist Voluspa Jarpa, the Mexican conceptual artist Teresa Margolles, the Guatemalan multi-disciplinary artist Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa and the Chilean artist Seba Calfuqueo, in addition to the primary exhibition in 30 years devoted to Óscar Muñoz, a key Colombian modern artist.
Earlier than shifting to Bogotá, Viola was a senior curator on the Perth Institute of Up to date Arts in Western Australia and held numerous curatorial positions on the Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina in Naples. He curated the Italian Pavilion on the 2022 Venice Biennale and the twenty fourth Bienal de Arte Paiz in Guatemala (till 15 February).
Viola didn’t say what position he would possibly pursue subsequent, however did affirm that he’ll transfer again to his hometown of Naples after ten years of dwelling and dealing overseas. He added that he’ll fulfil his present worldwide curatorial commitments.
