"Mirrors of Mexico" | Special Sessions with the Artists Present in Buenos Aires for the exhibition "Mirrors of Mexico," the Artist Sessions create an aesthetic universe that highlights the diversity and creativity within contemporary art. This activity is especially designed for students, researchers, educators, and those interested in contemporary art and culture. Cruzvillegas, Ortega, Aranda, and Lozano-Hemmer each showcase a large-scale installation, one per room, which monumentally and disruptively interacts with the space. Their works explore intersections and tensions between object, space, materiality, technology, and sound. The artists, present during the installation process, will share behind-the-scenes insights into their production and the conceptual content of their work through a conversation with the participating audience.
The University of San Andrés and Fundación Proa present the Artist Sessions, featuring the exclusive participation of Abraham Cruzvillegas, Damián Ortega, Julieta Aranda, and Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. These four individual sessions offer the opportunity to learn about and engage with the artistic journey of each artist.
Sessions
• Abraham Cruzvillegas
• Damián Ortega
• Julieta Aranda
Abraham Cruzvillegas
Cruzvillegas explores the pedagogical dimension of the concept of "autoconstrucción" (self-construction), based on the spontaneous architecture he encountered during his childhood in Colonia Ajusco, in the south of Mexico City, where he was born. In addition to presenting his career, he shares the processes and tools he employs in his artistic practice. The works exhibited at Proa were created on-site with materials from our local steel industry, utilizing and reclaiming local raw materials. His concept of site-specific is fundamental and distinctive, employing a local and global language that has earned him international recognition.
Damián Ortega
Internationally known for his sculptures, installations, and performances, Ortega deconstructs and reconfigures common elements, such as a car, to reveal and challenge our usual perceptions. His work combines humor and critique, addressing topics like globalization, politics, and culture, while also exploring consumption, economy, and politics through everyday objects and industrial materials. By doing so, he creates visual compositions that challenge the viewer. In this session, Ortega shares his thoughts, working process, and his concept of interacting with objects, as well as his vision of the "expanded space.
Julieta Aranda
Julieta Aranda challenges conventions through multimedia installations, video art, and collaborative projects. Aranda explores themes such as the perception of time, economic exchange, and global interconnectedness. Her work, which has been exhibited in prestigious international institutions, invites reflection on the interaction between technology and society, and how these dynamics intersect with the subjectivity of everyday experience.