Elliot and Erick Jiménez: El Monte

Twin photographers Elliot and Erick Jiménez transform cultural heritage and spiritual tradition into a multidimensional artistic experience. Their exhibition Elliot and Erick Jiménez: El Monte will be on display at the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) from August 28, 2025, through March 22, 2026, marking the identical twin photographers' first solo museum exhibition.

The exhibition presents an entirely new body of work inspired by the spiritual tradition of Lucumí—a syncretic Afro-Caribbean religion that emerged in late nineteenth-century Cuba—and Lydia Cabrera's seminal text El Monte, which was translated into English for the first time in 2023. Through their art, the Jiménez brothers explore their bicultural upbringing as Cuban Americans raised in the Lucumí tradition.

Dominating the gallery is a large-scale structure that serves as both chapel and forest, referencing the Cuban monte—a wilderness associated with mystery, transformation and spiritual encounters. This installation symbolizes not only religious syncretism but also the shared womb space of the twin artists. Additional works reimagine renowned art historical compositions through a Lucumí lens, examining the intersections of this tradition with colonialism and Western art history.

While photography forms the exhibition's core, visitors will also encounter sculptural elements throughout the gallery. Together, these diverse works invite contemplation of wonder, mystery, self-reflection and cultural discovery—offering a unique window into the rich tapestry of Afro-Caribbean spiritual heritage.