The Portable Universe / El Universo en Tus Manos: Thought and Splendor of Indigenous Colombia

The Portable Universe / El Universo en Tus Manos: Thought and Splendor of Indigenous Colombia


  • May 29–Oct 2, 2022
  • Resnick Pavilion
  • Watch the Documentary Video Series

Image: Poster for Unpacking the Universe'

Unpacking the Universe: The Making of an Exhibition is a documentary series that follows the six-year journey of LACMA’s curators Diana Magaloni and Julia Burtenshaw researching, developing, and installing The Portable Universe / El Universo en tus Manos. The series allows us to be transparent about how the team facilitated a collaborative process with the Arhuaco community in Colombia and curators at different institutions and kept this spirit of collaboration alive in the way the exhibition was installed.

Among many topics, the documentary features scenes of breathtaking landscapes and archeological sites; conversations with Mamo Camilo Izquierdo and Jaison Perez Villafaña regarding the Arhuaco worldview and how this relates to contemporary social and environmental issues; and behind-the-scenes footage of preparing the exhibition, including new initiatives around museum stewardship of Indigenous works. 

Watch Unpacking the Universe: The Making of an Exhibition at www.lacma.org/unpackingtheuniverse