With the exhibition “Feliciano Lana — The History of the Whites”, the Humboldt Forum in Berlin offers an extraordinary insight into the life and perspective of the indigenous artist Feliciano Lana from Brazil. His watercolours illuminate the eventful history of contact between indigenous people and whites on the upper Rio Negro. From a local and at the same time personal perspective, Lana tells of the influence of colonialism and capitalism, the common origin of both groups and the expulsion and later return of the whites as soldiers, missionaries and researchers.
In addition to Lana’s impressive works, the exhibition also features works by contemporary indigenous artistsand a video installation with indigenous contemporary witnesses. Feliciano Lana, whose indigenous name is Sibé, has shaped the representation of indigenous culture in the Amazon region for decades through his unique paintings — first as a plantation worker and later as an expert in the artistic documentation of traditional and mythical stories of the region. His life’s journey, from his early experiences at boarding school to his conscious decision to become a painter, reveals the complexity of intercultural encounters and invites visitors to rediscover the stories and experiences from an indigenous perspective.
