Democracia Americana at Casa de América in Madrid, Spain, presents a visual investigation into the social fabric of the United States. Created by the collective PSJM, formed by Cynthia Viera and Pablo San José, the exhibition coincides with the 250th anniversary of American independence. It uses a method the artists call "social geometry" to translate complex statistical datasets into clean, hard-edge abstract paintings. Admission to the galleries is free.

The exhibition is divided into two main projects across different floors. American Colors uses formica on wood to represent census data, including indices of poverty and incarceration rates across different ethnic groups. The resulting works resemble Mid-century modern design but are strictly governed by mathematical percentages. On the first floor, the installation American Democracy features 59 paintings that map every presidential election in US history, creating a rhythmic timeline of political shifts through geometric shapes.

By merging the tradition of American Color Field painting with infographics, PSJM invites a reading of the works that goes beyond aesthetic appreciation. These are works where the size of a color block serves as a direct record of social reality rather than an intuitive choice. The show highlights how a nation founded on democratic ideals reflects its internal changes through numbers and voting patterns over two and a half centuries.

An intellectually stimulating visit for those interested in the intersection of data, politics, and minimalism, offering a clear visual map of a complex nation.

Start on the ground floor to understand the foundational concepts of the race-based series before heading to the first floor for the expansive election timeline.