I arranged my travels to be in Mexico City during its Art Week scheduled February 7-11th, 2024. Here is why…. ZONAMACO is the largest art fair platform in Latin America, which stands for “México Arte Contemporáneo Organizacion.” Unlike other art fairs I’ve attended, Mexico’s premier Latin American Art Fair is a combination of four sections: art, design, photography and antiques, all under one roof. Now entering its 20th anniversary, the fair has achieved an international reputation with a focus but not exclusively on Latin American art and it does not disappoint ….
The month of February is a great time to get away from the winter weather and what better place than Mexico City, deeply influenced by its history of ancient civilizations and centuries of Spanish colonialism. In fact, CDMX (Ciudad de Mexico) as it is known, houses over 150 museums and has some of the most diverse architecture, both modern and traditional (my favorite being Baroque). A perfect setting and excuse for art lovers, collectors and curators to want to come to ZONAMACO.
What’s Different About the ZONAMACO Art Fair?
Having attended many art fairs in the US, I found ZONAMACO to be uniquely different, with its intentional use of curators to organize its various sections that include modern and contemporary art, photography, design and antiques. It also sponsored a large-scale arts project promoted by well-established international galleries. The art fair is also committed to engaging emerging art galleries with a focus on young and indigenous artists. Over 100 galleries were present from the entire globe.
The design section, which I found the most peculiar, included furniture, jewelry, textiles, decorative objects and antiques. There was clearly something here for everyone to love or hate. The photography section represented a combination of vintage and contemporary works. Although small, I found it relevant to the changes seen within the field of photography.
The entire art fair was framed with these large-scale sculpture pieces spread throughout its floors. I especially loved the giant sculpture piece by Eduardo Sarabia…. a traditional giant Talavera vase decorated with marijuana leaves …. fusing tradition with modern reality. (I’ve included photos of several of these large sculpture pieces and the furniture).
To my surprise, the art fair included a sizable space for publishing companies and booksellers, at least 20 + tables. I spent a good portion of one day talking and learning so much about the emerging Indie art and photo book industry in Mexico fueled by the pandemic. By creating cooperatives, small publishers can compete and help publish lesser known upcoming authors as well as meeting community needs ignored by the big bookselling chains.
The art fair also offered an education program over the 4 days that included a wide range of topics with experts from around the globe. Most were well attended. I managed to attend two of these seminars.
For the first time, there was a foundation grant of $100,000 to be shared equally between a winning artist and the gallery chosen by the public from a list of 20 finalists. I found this competition a bit confusing as it was not well communicated. I managed to do one, but found the process not well organized.
So, What About the Art?
As with all art fairs, there is a little of everything, but probably not enough of what you may want to see. I found the show very diverse and inclusive of art that had nothing to do with Latin America. I thought the sculpture pieces were quite extensive, and many added a wow factor while others I wasn’t sure what the artists were was trying to say. Clearly for me, seeing so many Latin American artists and galleries in one place was like coming home. As expected, there were a fair share of nude paintings of both sexes. Not as many using textiles and recycled materials as I have seen in other fairs (and to my liking). The addition of decorative art and antiques was a bit too much, yet there is something to say about how design extends into the art world.
Spotlighting Emerging Artists at ZONAMACO
Whenever I attend an art fair, I like to highlight several emerging artists whose works I enjoyed and who are underrepresented in the art world, whether they be of a specific minority group, females, LGBTQ+ or of an indigenous community. I chose three Mexican artists, two males and one female, all have exhibited internationally. The following is a bit about their background and works:
Omar Rodriguez-Graham lives and works in Mexico City although he received his BA and MFA degrees from both New Jersey and Philadelphia Pa. I found his abstract paintings to be dynamic and bold, composed of two-dimensional collages that provoke a sense of movement when you are gazing at the diversity of the vibrant colors he uses. They are both paintings and sculptural pieces beautifully displayed. His work is purely abstract, using a digital process in both constructing and painting these pictorial pieces. I only have one photo of his work, however you can click here to see more of his abstract paintings.
Carlos Rodriquez lives and works in Mexico City, originally from San Luis Potosi. He studied graphic design working as an illustrator and in advertising for 10 years before becoming a full-time painter. The focus of his art is on the exploration of the male body. His works remind me of the Colombian artist Fernando Botero’s signature style of depicting people in large, exaggerated form. The art also has an indigenous element about it drawing from the artist’s Mexican heritage. I loved the way he pays homage to the male form in what seems to be playful scenes among men who happen to be naked. These paintings make you smile while provoking you to think about issues of gender and identity which is exactly the artist’s intention. I posted several photos of Carlos’ works besides the feature photo. For more on Carlos click here.
Beatriz Morales, born in Mexico City of Lebanese origin residing in Berlin, is a self-taught artist who combines paintings, video and textiles in many of her installations. As a multidisciplinary artist, her most recent work with textiles exhibited at the art fair is bringing it back to her roots. She creates large-scale installations using her signature abstract expressionist style, combining traditional ancestral Mexican craft techniques and materials into beautiful tapestries. Beatriz uses snakeskin, agave and cactus fibers as well as other natural materials for dyes to create colorful, expansive landscapes influenced by her Mexican heritage. I found the various tapestries to be stunningly eye-catching and romantic, as you can see from the photos. For more on Beatriz, click here
Some Thoughts on Logistics
ZONAMACO’s use of the CitiBanamex Convention Center offered sufficient real estate for galleries and businesses to showcase their collection and products. It also allowed for restaurants to create a variety of pop-up dining experiences, more than I have seen in other fairs. The location of the convention center is a bit far northwest of center city, limiting the flexibility to attend other art events within the city, as traffic here is severe. The cost of admission (about $25 per day) I thought was reasonable, allowing for the broader public to participate. The audience was much like any in New York or Miami, with plenty of fashionistas trying to upstage the art. Overall, it was a well-performed show and one worth considering as part of your winter travels. As always, my photos are of art works I found interesting, provocative, unusual or in some cases easy to photograph. Photos of the artists highlighted are at the end. Remember to click the center of the photos to see the full view.
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