The San Ildefonso College will unveil its “Rastros y Vestigios. Indagaciones Sobre el Presente” (Traces and Vestiges. Inquiries About the Present) exhibition to the public this Tuesday night, April 26 at 8 p.m. The exhibition, curated by Tatiana Cuevas, displays 121 pieces by 64 artists, including works by Francis Alÿs, Carlos Amorales, Joseph Beuys, Alighiero Boetti, Félix González Torres, Mona Hatoaum, On Kawara, Alfredo Jaar, Teresa Margolles, Ana Mendieta, Gabriel Orozco, Andy Warhol and Wim Wenders.
Cuevas’ goal in putting together the art showing was to showcase modern art in a different and more accessible way to viewers. Many people tend to reject modern art because they don’t understand it. The objective behind the exhibition is to confront those fears by showing items from our everyday lives and interpreting them in different contexts. According to Cuevas, the goal is to get closer to the enigma of modern art instead of rejecting it.
Photo: Culture Secretariat/Tania Victoria
The showing features many works of 3-D art that utilize common everyday objects, like Pablo Vargas Lugo’s installation entitled, “Bonampak News.” This piece exhibits the use of newspapers scattered across the ground. At first glance, they appear to be any old newspaper, but taking a closer look, one sees that they are written in Maya hieroglyphics, unintelligible to observers. This piece aims to show something that we consume and discard everyday in a new light.
Artist Adam McEwen shows us a similar perspective in his work entitled, “Lübeck.” The installation incorporates old pieces of used chewing gum. The gum is placed haphazardly onto the canvas in a way that resembles dalmatian fur. If the viewer didn’t know what they were looking at, they’d have no idea that it was made of chewed-up gum. In this way, McEwen also displays an ordinary object that we consume and discard, but presents it to us in a different and interesting manner.
More information:
“Rastros y Vestigios. Indagaciones Sobre el Presente” will open April 26 at 8:00 p.m. The exhibition is to remain open until August 21.
The San Ildefonso College is located at Justo Sierra 16, Centro Histórico.
The museum is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 until 6:00 p.m. and is closed on Mondays.
General admission is 45 pesos ($2.56); 22.50 pesos for students, teachers and retirees with valid ID; and free admission is available for children under 12 years of age and seniors with valid ID.