Marisa Raygoza. Trayectoria de una lagrima from Coleccion Elias Fontes on Vimeo.
An installation of 43 kites representing the 43 innocent students being killed in Ayotzinapa, Mexico, just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, awaited your presence at
Shaped in Mexico Second Edition.
A selection of artists that represent aspects of Mexico, known and unknown, was developed in Monterrey, Mexico by a group of art enthusiasts: Lorena Junco, Silvia P. Morton, Daniela Fernández, Curator olgaMargarita Dávila and artist Raúl Cerrillo. It was exhibited at the Bargehouse, Southbank Centre, London, last September.
Art has the power to transcend media cliches and to present other realities that does not fit the news’ agenda. Shaped in Mexico was a good example of that. Spanning 4 floors of exhibition space, over 150 works by 32 international artists, immersive large-scale installations, projects and specially commissioned performances took place alongside a curated public programme of talks, music and events.
Oweena Fogarty, Veracruz Policia, Photograph, Courtesy the artist and Shaped in Mexico
Artists exhibited include: Adrián Guerrero, Alejandra Alarcón, Alejandro Fournier, Alexandra Clark, Christi Haupt, Christian Becerra, David Gremard, Diana Coca, Elizabeth de Jesus, Ernesto Alva, Ernesto Walker, Federica Tavian, Gabriel Santamarina, Heriberto Quesnel, Irma Sofia Poeter, Jacobo Alonso, Luis Carrera-Maul, Enguita & Lasso de la Vega, Mariana Gullco, Maribel Portela, Marisa Raygosa, Maru Rojas, Mauricio Cervantes, Oyslyn Whizar, Oweena Fogarty, Pablo Cotama, Pilar Enrich, Raúl Cerrillo, Silvia Lerin, Sol Martinez, Viviana Diaz and Warren Hair. Music performances include a set by Joe from Wisconsin, the alter-ego of artist Alejandro Fournier.
Lorena Junco and Silvia P. Morton, directors of the project, kindly agreed to respond to the following questions:
Can you please tell us a bit about your background?
Art has always been very special to me. It was very clear since I was a child that this was how I was going to express myself. Since a young age Silvia Morton – my friend and business partner in Shaped in Mexico and Distrito 14 gallery – has been very close to me. During our early years as graduates we started producing exhibitions for young and emerging artists in my house and we started an arts school in Silvia´s house. Distrito 14 has developed in an organic and rather unconventional way. Little did I know that through this strong friendship, and by supporting and growing with the artists from the beginning of their careers, I could be an agent of change.
What is the main purpose of the Margain-Junco Art Collection and the Shaped in Mexico exhibition?
The main purpose of The Margain-Junco Collection is to create something which represents my personal learning journey through art. With Shaped in Mexico we aim to build a visible platform outside of our country for artists from or inspired by Mexico.
A difficult question. Can you choose two of your favourites artworks in the exhibition and why?
All the artworks are important because they each reflect a part of Mexico.
What would you like members of the public to take away home after having seen the show?
I would like the public to take away an honest and discerning view of Mexico. To inspire, share and exalt the values of our country.
Shaped in Mexico 4-12 September 2015 www.shapedinmexico.com
About The Margain-Junco Collection
The Margain-Junco Collection was founded in Monterrey, Mexico, by Lorena Junco de la Vega and her husband Eduardo Margain. Shaped in Mexico in London and DISTRITO 14 Art Project in Monterrey are the principal philanthropic projects of The Margain-Junco Collection. The collection is currently made up of over 100 pieces and includes works across all disciplines by artists from around the globe, with a major focus on artists from or influenced by Mexico. The Margain-Junco Collection works with a growing number of artists to support the development of emerging talent whilst fostering global awareness of Mexico’s rich cultural heritage and contribution to the arts. The collection strongly believes in the ability of art to help community engagement and in its capability to transform social processes, actively creating new opportunities for audiences to engage with contemporary art, and to promote production, reflection, discourse and understanding.
About the Open Call Curators
Chief curator: Olga Margarita Dávila is an influential curator based in Mexico, dedicated to expanding the reach of the Mexican art scene. Dávila’s curatorial work spans more than 90 exhibits in the USA, Argentina, Spain, and Mexico over the past 20 years. Her current and most recent roles include: Director for the Art Museum in Saltillo, Mexico, Contemporary Curator for the Museo Textil in Oaxaca, Mexico, Curator for Fundacion Benjamin Serrano, AC, amongst many others. More information on Dávila can be found here: www.shapedinmexico.com/olga-margarita
Guest curator: Elena Aparicio Mainar is an art historian, museographer and cultural manager. Currently Mainar is an international commissioner and art advisor on inclusion, education and diversity for national and international institutions. For twenty years Mainar has worked with cultural and educational institutions across Spain, Italy, México, United States, Great Britain, Egypt, Belgium and Germany, including: the XII Art Biennale of Cairo (Egypt), CaixaForum Barcelona (Spain), Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse (US), Foundation Joan Miró (Spain), Isabella Gardner Museum (US), Museum of Fine Arts Boston (US), Peggy Guggenheim Museum (Italy), Picasso Museum Malaga (Spain) and Pistoletto-Cittadellarte Fondazione (Italy).
