Antonio Jose Guzman and Iva Jankovic

Antonio Jose Guzman and Iva Jankovic create works that merge historical narratives with contemporary global issues, using indigo textiles, sound, and live performances to address themes of colonialism, migration and cultural exchange that evokes a global connection between the Black Atlantic. Their practice is centered around the indigo dye, an ancient and sacred material with complex colonial ties, used as a lens through which they explore the transatlantic slave trade and the movement of people and knowledge across continents.

Their installations are known for their intricately patterned textiles, which are inspired by DNA sequences and from vernacular patterns that metaphorically trace intercultural connections within the African diaspora.The indigo-dyed fabrics serve as a canvas to explore identity, collective memories and the often-overlooked legacies of colonial histories.

Drawing from a wide range of musical traditions—electronic, dub, punk, and African percussion—their soundscapes evoke the emotional weight of displacement and cultural belonging. These sonic explorations become the foundation for their *Messengers of the Sun* performances, which combine dance, ritual, and procession to symbolically represent the intersections of cultural fusion.

Guzman and Jankovic’s work has been presented at prestigious venues worldwide, including the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, the Barbican Centre in London, Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin, The Museum of Contemporary Art of Panama, as well as at major biennials such as Venice, Dakar, Guatemala, Havana, and Sharjah.