Parakultural, Underground arts center in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Parakultural was an arts center in Buenos Aires housed in a two-story building on Venezuela Street, featuring performance spaces and exhibition areas. A basement stage, dark corridors, and multiple rooms allowed for different types of artistic presentations and shows.
The center emerged in 1986 as a response to artistic repression during Argentina's military dictatorship, founded by Omar Viola and Horacio Gabin. In 1990, it relocated to Chacabuco Street and took on the new name Parakultural New Border.
The venue became a gathering place for artistic outsiders and experimental performers who had limited alternatives elsewhere in the city. Friendships formed between musicians, actors, and visual artists here, as they inspired and challenged each other.
The venue was difficult to locate and required local knowledge to find the exact address, especially after it changed locations. Visitors should expect access through dark areas and spaces that were not furnished by modern standards.
Police frequently interrupted performances and conducted identity checks, which added an element of tension to the rebellious spirit of the place. These unexpected interventions became part of what made the experience memorable for those who visited.
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