Web Preface
by Karl Young
The Spanish text of Art and People: Latin American Art in Our
Time has circulated in xerox in Latin America, though this English
on-line edition is its first publication. We are fortunate in many ways
to be able to offer this work online. First because it is probably the
most important of Clemente Padin's critical works. Not only has Padin had
the opportunity to look at his subject from many perspectives, but the
translation comes from Harry Polkinhorn, one of an incredibly tiny
number of English speaking translators at home in the two major languages
of Latin America, and also closely involved with many of the artists
discussed by Padin. Usually by the time a work gets translated
into English, it is out of date: no longer reflective of what's happening
now, but a record of institutionalized trends and filtration.
Polkinhorn's translations are scrupulously literal, and match Padin's
style in a way that few other translators could manage. Given the
importance of global communication to Padin, to many of the people about
whom he writes, and to Polkinhorn, it seems appropriate that this edition
should appear on the world wide web, where it can receive the largest
possible circulation.
Padin presents examples of some of the work discussed. I have set these
up in "galleries" so that they can be accessed separately by readers
who would like to look at them before they start reading, or
after they've read the text. These form mini-anthologies of their own.
Note that the third gallery is a composite for several chapters that
don't use many examples.
Polkinhorn and I originally intended to publish this book in print as a
joint Light and Dust and Atticus Press book. It should still be considered
a joint venture on the web.
I'd like to thank Harry Polkinhorn not only for his translation and his
tireless work with contemporary Latin American poetry, but also for the
wisdom and abilities he has shown in other projects we have worked on
together. I'd also like to thank John Fowler for his support,
assistance, and patience while I learned the web technology that allowed
me to put this online. And I would like to thank Clemente Padin for the
book, and just as much for his continued efforts in so many areas of art
as a global as well as a local phenomenon.
Return to Contents page for Clemente Padin's
Art and People.
Copyright © 1997 by Karl Young.
Return to
Light and Dust Poets.
Light and Dust Mobile Anthology of Poetry
in cooperation with Atticus Press.