Made in Mexico

Summary: Everything is made in Mexico, from decorative mirrors to silver jewelry to plastic dolls and ceramic dishware--and contemporary art. Made in Mexico examines recent art produced within and about Mexico. Historically, Mexico has always welcomed artists and writers from abroad as a way of enriching and diversifying the national character. This publication examines the phenomenon from a contemporary perspective for the f...irst time. Made in Mexico highlights the current generation of cultural production within the context of prevailing global and conceptual art vocabularies. Speaking within a larger dialogue, Made in Mexico includes international artists whose work does not necessarily come out of a local experience, yet draws upon a distinctly Mexican vernacular--whether iconographic, architectural, or environmental. Three themes structure the book's organization: "Local Identities" addresses how contemporary artists approach the essential characteristics of Mexican identity as projected through popular imagery, cultural iconography, and traditional art forms. "Mexican Modernisms" addresses the problems of modernist aesthetic ideologies within the context of Mexican architecture, design, and sculpture. And "Social Spaces" addresses artistic inspirations found within the environmental landscape. Included are works by artists such Francis Alÿs, Daniel Buren, Andrea Fraser, Thomas Glassford, Mathias Goeritz, Erik Göngrich, Terrence Gower, Andreas Gursky, Mona Hatoum, On Kawara, Sharon Lockhart, Teresa Margolles, Yasumasa Morimura, Gabriel Orozco, Damián Ortega, Luis Felipe Ortega, Pedro Reyes, Sebastián Romo, Daniela Rossell, Santiago Sierra, Melanie Smith, Robert Smithson, and Anton Vidokle. [read more]