In an atricle for Pēripherica: Journal of Social, Cultural and Literary History, Miramontes Olivas examines Voluspa Jarpa’s installation Judd Shaft (2016–present), which exposes declassified documents from the CIA to create what Miramontes Olivas terms “necroarchivos.” Defined as contemporary artworks that highlight information previously lost, hidden, or manipulated, the necroarchivos resist “necropolitics,” to present fragmented narratives to question official rhetoric and advocate for justice and collective memories. Against the current proliferation of authoritarianism and dictatorial regimes, the necroarchivos play a critical role in alerting viewers of the tragic consequences of repressive governments. Miramontes Olivas maps Jarpa’s aesthetics of resistance, her dialogue with archival art, and a constellation of other artworks, to present the (in)accessibility of information and contest myriad disciplinary fields. Miramontes Olivas argues Jarpa’s necroarchivos comment on the (in)visibility of diverse power structures and their secrecy to register a counter history and contest necropolitics.

 

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