The exhibition explores contemporary issues linked to the relationship between hallucinogenic images and iconographic production, using ayahuasca as a case study.

While ayahuasca literally ‘vine of the dead’ in Quechua has fascinated the Western world for just half a century, after it was popularised by the Beat Generation, this hallucinogenic beverage occupies a central place in the social life of many indigenous societies in the Western Amazon.

Traditionally ingested in a shamanic context, mainly for therapeutic or divination purposes, this ‘psychedelic’ substance is also closely linked to artistic creation. The ‘visions’ or hallucinations it induces are often cited as a leading source of inspiration by indigenous artists in the Peruvian Amazon.

The exhibition presents a panorama of the different ways in which these ayahuasca-induced ‘visionary images’ are represented today. From the refined, geometric iconography of the Shipibos-Konibos to the literary (William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg) and audiovisual (Jan Kounen) productions of the 20th and 21st centuries, it offers a veritable dive into art under its influence.

This exhibition has been presented at: