Abstract

This article addresses the construction of Latin American imaginaries of modernization in relation to the technical developments that have arisen by the beginning of the 20^th century. It also studies the way in which the glorification of technology produced a strong impact on the avant-garde in the visual arts and literature. After analyzing the attraction of European avant-gardes movements towards Technique, this essay argues that in our region several works of art questioned the uncritical exaltation of the machine. Instead, they proposed local artistic languages based on the notions of utopia and invention. The article concludes by stating that the glorification of technology, utopia and invention are concepts that not only enable to articulate different poetic, political and techno-scientific conceptions that have gradually appeared on the local scene, but they also contribute to build bridges between the artworks of the first avant-gardes and the emergencies of contemporary art.

Key Words: Avant-gardes; imaginaries of modernization; literature; technology; visual arts