Jorge de León (performance artist)


Jorge de León is a Guatemalan performance artist who specializes in body art. He was born in Guatemala City, and forms part of the generation of artists that includes Regina José Galindo. He was in and out of jail twelve times, and looked to art as a means of confronting the gang violence rampant in Guatemala.

Artwork

De León’s work centers on urban violence in Guatemala City, which is influenced by his former involvement in gangs. De León has commented that the rich live by double standards, “they are thieves, but they kill us saying we are thieves... At least gang members are honest. If rob, they say it. If they take drugs they say it.”