Acamonchi
Francis Alys
Montserrat Albores
Mario Garcia Torres
Carlos Amorales
Katya Brailovsky
Miguel Calderon
Célula Arquitectura
Pedro Reyes
Minerva Cuevas
Galia Eibenschutz
Alexis Zabe
Benjamin Escamilla
HCRH
Yoshua Okon
Proyecto Iztapalapa/Chic by Accident
Carlos Ranc
Daniela Rossell
Santiago Sierra
Teresa Serrano
Pablo Leon de la Barra
Erick Beltran
Magali Arriola
The exhibition provides a critical perspective on Mexican society. In response to these developments, artists have organized themselves in new art centers, devoted to political and esthetic explorations. They infiltrate in the status quo, explore possibilities for resistance against existing power structures, and utilize shifting identities to respond to a public space marked by rapid change and shifting social relations.
Guest-curator: Magali Arriola
With: Acamonchi, Francis Alÿs, Montserrat Albores and
Mario GarcÃa Torres, Carlos Amorales, Katya
Brailovsky, Miguel Calderón, Célula Arquitectura +
Pedro Reyes, Minerva Cuevas, Galia Eibenschutz and
Alexis Zabé, BenjamÃn Escamilla, HCRH, Yoshua Okón,
Proyecto Iztapalapa/Chic by Accident, Carlos Ranc,
Daniela Rossell, Santiago Sierra, Teresa Serrano.
Projects: Pablo León de la Barra, Erick Beltrán.
Coartadas / Alibis provides a critical perspective on Mexican
society. Increasing globalization has in recent years sharpened the
social and economic contrasts in Mexico. Multinationals have a
stranglehold on the national economy, the people suffer under
shortages, and some population groups are structurally
marginalized. The government fails to provide an answer to these
problems. The tension between the traditional political order and
the need for social change manifests itself prominently in the
megalopolis Mexico City whose inhabitants confront daily
uncertainties with various survival strategies.
In response to these developments, artists have organized
themselves in new art centers, devoted to political and esthetic
explorations. They infiltrate in the status quo, explore possibilities
for resistance against existing power structures, and utilize shifting
identities to respond to a public space marked by rapid change and
shifting social relations.
Coartadas / Alibis was produced in collaboration with the
Centre Culturel du Mexique in Paris, France.
For more information: Valentijn Byvanck 010-4110144.
Lectures & events
The Mexican Megalopolis
Sunday April 14, 2002, 3 pm.
Presentations and round table discussion with Magali Arriola,
Pablo León de la Barra, Erick Beltrán, Catherine David.
Location Witte de With Auditorium; admission free, English
spoken. For further information, see 'lectures & events'.
Image: Minerva Cuevas
Witte de With center for contemporary art
Witte de Withstraat 50 3012 BR Rotterdam The Netherlands
opening hours Tuesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. closed on Mondays