Entry 03. Mirror/Reflection
The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo in Monterrey presents Entry 03. Mirror/Reflection, an exhibition that analyzes the border that expands between Mexico and the U.S. The show reflects on identitary, political and aesthetic concepts within this geographic region, through works by Cristina Ibarra, Hugo Lugo, Rubén Ortiz-Torres, Marcos Ramírez ″ERRE,″ Daniel Ruanova, Rorolab and Yvonne Venegas, all artists who were born in México or that live there.
These artists have approached the subject from a geographic, political, social, cultural and psychological perspective, as their works reflect and explore the identity, idiosyncrasy and stigma associated with the Mexican people that live on both sides of the border.
The work by Hugo Lugo, the artist who opens the exhibition, invites viewers to explore how to discern fact from fiction, the present from the past and north from south at the border, as he takes them into a poetic world that stimulates the imagination. Works like Iluminar lo Olvidado (To Illuminate the Forgotten, 2011), Ensayo para Elaborar un Desastre, Paisaje Expandido (Essay to Produce a Disaster, Expanded Landscape, 2009) also address the solitude and isolation migrants are exposed to when faced with language barriers and cultural gaps.
For their part, the molecular urbanism of Torolab, a group founded by Raúl Cárdenas, is revealed to the public through pieces like those from the series Moment. On the Other Hand, LRPT: The Religion of Cross-border Pants, from 2004-2005, a work that redefines the physical and geographic space of the border as it maps the movements of five individuals through the San Diego and Tijuana area.
The light-hearted and amusing videos by Cristina Ibarra reveal her sharp understanding and point of view of cross-border culture; her characters with their complex family and historical ties, not solely demand their own identity but also manage to capture the everyday life of Chicanos and Latinos in the US.
The customs, the social classes, the power and the identity of Mexicans are analyzed through the lens of Yvonne Venegas, a photographer that captivates with portraits that capture the behavior, education, social position and the morality of the individuals portrayed.
The work by Rubén Ortíz-Torres alludes to the Chicano tradition of car customization. In pieces like 1%, 2012, and Aguamala (Jellyfish, 2012), Ortíz-Torres applied thermo-sensible paint similar to the capricious tones of the tuned-up cars.
Among the work shown by Marcos Ramírez ″ERRE″ in this exhibition, stands out his last piece from the series Crossroads. It addresses the experience of the wandering traveler faced with endless alternatives, possibilities and limitations.
Lastly, Entry 03 closes with the exhibition of a work by Daniela Ruanova. Entitled Bélico, Vibrante y Urbano (Bellicose, Vibrating and Urban), the piece conveys the energy and vitality generated by the clash of two worlds.
The exhibition will remain open until May 5, 2013.
