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From the Closet to the SpotlightMexican Contemporary Art Flourishes in the Art WorldBy Madelyn Miller
Increased travel to Mexico and interest in Mexican culture has helped the country’s contemporary artists make their way into the international arena. From Paris to Los Angeles, young Mexican artists are becoming the center of attention in the art world, with art exhibits and galleries featuring their works springing up in every major city. To name just a few, the exhibit Made in Mexico is set to open January 2004 at the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art; and the world-renowned international art show, Art Basel Miami Beach, which opened its doors recently, invited several contemporary Mexican artists to participate, among them Luciano Matus and Manuel Rocha. According to the renowned auction house Christie’s, recent interest in Mexican contemporary art is stronger than ever.
Among the rising stars is Eduardo Abaroa, whose sculptures utilizing trash and other common, modern-day elements—one of his works is called How to Make Garbage Invisible--have caught the eye of international art connoisseurs worldwide. Abaroa’s work was recently featured in a one-man show in New York called Recent Models and Freaks, and his sculptures form part of the Jack Tilton/Anna Kustera Gallery’s current exhibit in New York. Another up-and-coming artist is 30-year-old Daniela Rossell, whose documentary photography depicts Mexico’s smallest minority: the ultra-rich. Rossell’s book, Rich and Famous (Ricos y Famosos), features a collection of brash photographs that poke fun at the decadent and lavish lifestyles of Mexico’s elite. Rossell’s work has been featured in museums as far as London, Munich and New York, and will be spotlighted in the Girls’ Night Out exhibit January 2004 at the Orange County Museum of Art in California.
Some of the better-known contemporary artists include José Luis Cuevas, Sergio Bustamante, Javier de la Garza, Silvia Gruner, Miguel Ventura, Julio Galán, Pablo Ortiz Monasterio, Miguel Calderón, Miguel Castro Liñero, Francisco Toledo and Teresa Margolles. The following places are must-sees for art enthusiasts visiting Mexico: MEXICO CITY MUSEUMSMuseum of Modern Art (Museo de Arte Moderno) Museo de Arte Contemporaneo Internacional Rufino Tamayo Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil Colección Jumex Sala de Arte Público Siqueiros - SAPS Laboratorio de Arte Alameda Mexico City is also home to a variety of art galleries, the Polanco, Roma and Condesa Districts are where most of them are concentrated. MEXICO CITY GALLERIESOMR Gallery (Galería OMR) Galería de Arte Mexicano Galería Enrique Guerrero Galería Nina Menocal Espaciotres Galería Pecanins MUSEUMS OUTSIDE MEXICO CITYMonterrey Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo de Arte
Contemporáneo de Monterrey, or MARCO) Yucatán Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo de Arte
Contemporáneo Ateneo de Yucatán, or MACAY) Oaxaca Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo de Arte
Contemporáneo de Oaxaca) GREAT GUIDEBOOKSLonely Planet Mexico EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES MEXICO TRAVELERS TALES GUIDES Michelin Tourist Guide to Mexico, Guatemala and Belize HIDDEN CANCUN & THE YUCATAN PUERTA VALLARTA PUERTA VALLARTA BERLITZ PUERTO VALLARTA & ACAPULCO POCKET GUIDE BERLITZ CANCUN & COZUMEL Hunter Travel Guide ADVENTURE GUIDE TO THE YUCATAN, CANCUN & COZUMEL HIDDEN CANCUN & THE YUCATAN by Richard Harris LONELY PLANET MEXICO CITY' EAT SMART IN MEXICO LIVE BETTER SOUTH OF THE BORDER ON MEXICAN TIME by Bob Brooke, Mexico specialist. For more information, visit his main Web site Writing at Its Best (http://www.bobbrooke.com) or his Mexico Web site, The Real Mexico (http://www.therealmexico.com). |
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Mexico used to be the contemporary art world’s
best-kept secret. Up until the early 90s, international exhibits of Mexican
art featured everything from the ancient cultures of the Mayans and Aztecs
to the 20s and 30s muralists such as David Alfaro Siqueiros, Diego Rivera
and José Clemente Orozco, but contemporary artists were notoriously absent.
Described by the art world as rebellious, colorful,
cosmopolitan, energetic, and patriotic, Mexican contemporary art is an
eclectic blend of styles and media. Although not following a specific
movement, the works of modern Mexican artists share many social and
political themes such as poverty, pollution, corruption, and income
disparity. And the country’s young creators—be they writers, filmmakers,
actors or artists--have also succeeded in showing the world the complexity
and sophistication of Mexican culture and society. 
In addition to international exhibits showcasing
Mexican contemporary art, Mexico boasts an exhaustive list of museums and
galleries of its own. Mexico City, one of the world’s largest and most
sophisticated metropolis, overflows with galleries and museums featuring
contemporary art, as well as special exhibits offered periodically in the
Fine Arts Palace (Palacio de Bellas Artes) and other venues. Cities such as
San Miguel Allende in Guanajuato and the city of Guadalajara and surrounding
towns are also known for their flourishing art scene. 