This landmark exhibition presents the work of one of the most highly regarded Latin American artists of the twentieth century, Ecuadorian painter and graphic artist Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919-1999). The first exhibit of its kind in the United States in more than fifty years, and the first scheduled stop on the Vanderbilt-organized national tour, the exhibition covers each of Guayasamín's major periods -- his early paintings that reflect the plight of the indigenous peoples of the Andes, his more mature work that addresses human suffering in the context of war and injustice, and, finally, the paintings of his last period that embody the artist's search for reconciliation after a life of fighting injustices. No less valid today than when he was commenting on the atrocities of World War II, Guayasamín's art is, in its whole, often made difficult by its honesty. The artist himself has observed, "My painting is to hurt, to scratch and hit inside people's hearts. To show what Man does against Man." Guayasamín's work evokes strong emotional responses to its subjects -- the horrors of war, the injustices of inequality and discrimination, and the rights of women, children, and indigenous peoples -- and reflects his lifelong commitment to peace and social justice. The paintings, prints, and drawings chosen for this exhibition speak to issues of war and peace, social conflict, and human compassion, not only reflecting the artist's Latin American roots, but also speaking to problems that the world faces today.

"Of Rage and Redemption" will be on view from February 7 until March 20, 2008 in the Vanderbilt University Fine Arts Gallery and Sarratt Gallery at Vanderbilt. A small selection of drawings will also be on display, accompanied by books on the artist, in Vanderbilt's Jean and Alexander Heard Library.