Image:Raul Ortega Ayala, Babel Fat Tower, 2010 photo credit: Stroom Den Haag, 2010
Through his practice Raul Ortega Ayala’s assumes the role of ‘participant observer’, covertly immersing himself in everyday environments. For his ongoing food series the artist undertook courses in cookery and butchery in Mexico, London and New York. The resultant works that range from video, performance, text and installation consider food as something more than physical sustenance.
The second part of the exhibition is devoted to Melting Pot’s a major installation and performance in which the artist carefully recreates a buffet that was served in Windows on the World, the famous restaurant on top of one of New York’s Twin Towers. Ortega Ayala serves food to exhibition-goers on kitchenware that was potentially made from the recycled metal debris of the towers to investigate the paradoxical cycle of these remains. There will be performances throughout the exhibition: dates to be confirmed.
Raul Ortega Ayala lives and works in Mexico City. He received an MFA from the Glasgow School of Art and Hunter College in New York and has a philosophy degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. His work has been exhibited internationally including solo museum exhibitions at Den Stroom, The Netherlands and Museo Experimental El Eco, Mexico. Last year the artist had a solo exhibition at The Kowalsky Gallery, London, curated by Gilane Tawadros and selected by Francis Alÿs.
Part I of the exhibition closes on Friday 24 June, dates in July for Part II and the Melting Pots installation and performance to be confirmed.
