Cecilia Bengolea
Career
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Full Biography
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1979, Cecilia Bengolea is a multidisciplinary artist, dancer, and choreographer who first gained recognition for her role in the 2001 cult film Smokers Only (originally titled Vagón fumador). Her artistic journey began with jazz dance lessons at age twelve, eventually leading her to study Art History and Philosophy at the University of Buenos Aires. In 2001, the same year as her breakout film role, she moved to Paris to further her training in the experimental choreographic program Ex.e.r.ce in Montpellier under Mathilde Monnier.
Bengolea has since evolved into a world-renowned figure in contemporary art, blending performance, video, and sculpture. She views the human body as an "animated sculpture" and frequently explores the intersections between individual bodies, collective memory, and nature. Over the last decade, she has extensively researched urban and social dance forms, notably spending years in Jamaica collaborating with the local dancehall scene. Her diverse body of work has been exhibited at major global institutions, including the Guggenheim Bilbao, Tate Modern, and the Centre Pompidou.
