A printed introduction to a current show at the University of Guadalajara’s midtown Museum of Arts (MUSA) aptly sums up the material in its newest offering.
Apropos to the English title denoting a difficult verb tense (“Future Perfect”—“Future Perfekt” in German), which expresses what will have been, this exhibition of the work of 16 Germans is said to ask how we can “liberate ourselves from habitual patterns of thought.”
There seem to be plenty of art critics who tell us that the purpose of contemporary art, rather than simply providing spectacle and eye candy, is to prepare us for the future. As a highly visual person, I’m all in favor of the eye candy, but in the case of “educational” art, it’s always nice if it prepares us for the future by engrossing rather than by boring or appalling us. (Incidentally, the language-based pieces in “Future Perfect,” done by German artists of an apparently multicultural background, were heavy on English and light on German, which doesn’t help Mexican viewers much, although many local art patrons are proficient in English.)
In any case, some of the work in this show did engross me. As for the pieces that perplexed me, perhaps the reason was that I simply wasn’t willing to give them enough time.
But I was very willing to give time, a full hour in one instance, to the work of two artists in “Future Perfect:”
1) A mere book by Dani Gal, displayed in a bookcase in the show’s entrance room, caught my eye. “Chanting Down Babylon” recapitulates the 1992 crash, never fully explained, of El Al Flight 1862, which tore in two an apartment complex outside Amsterdam. The incident, due to certain odd details and the confirmed detection of elements of poisonous Sarin gas at the crash site, can fuel conspiracy theories on all sides and make good reading for those of us who love such sinister tales.
2) Another engrossing artist was Armin Linke, who displayed a mere six fascinating photos set in bleak but photogenic places far off the tourist circuit and, most significantly, a visually stunning 60-minute film – dialogue-free yet meaning-laden – with the simple title “Alpi” (Alps).
Yes, “Alpi,” made in 2011, is about the Alps mountain range that includes eight countries, among them Switzerland, Germany, France and Italy. But it is far from boring travelogue material and could be better described as being about globalism. It has been called “the most uncritical film ever made about the utter artificiality of the modern world.”
While “Alpi” does include snippets of speech from tour guides, official spokesmen, Swiss Police Academy personnel in training inside a mountain bunker, even sections filmed in Dubai and, amusingly, a team of south Indian musicians trying to perform on the streets of an Alpine city, the only other verbiage is a brief monologue by an Italian worker isolated in the mountains.
The big danger in raving about a movie is that readers who later see it will be underwhelmed. Even though I found myself repeatedly gasping during my hour in the comfortable, cool screening room at MUSA, many may find a film that lacks an obvious storyline, has a soundtrack that consists not of dialogue or music but environmental sounds such as machinery or sheep bells, and that switches inexplicably and abruptly from one scene to another yet lingers a long time on seemingly minor details, to be less than fascinating.
Take it or leave it, but this prizewinning film was seven years in the making by a huge creative team assembled by Linke. There is also a lot to be said for “Future Perfect” in general, including the opportunity to enjoy, free of charge, an afternoon in a lovely, cool and quiet oasis in midtown Guadalajara, which can be all too hot and noisy.
Notably, MUSA’s permanent jewel, the overarching mural by José Clemente Orozco in the Paraninfo auditorium, is closed until May 15 for restoration, although an exhibit of the artist’s sketches, a film, and other interesting material relating to Orozco, who also did several famous murals in the United States, are on display in the hallway. MUSA also houses a gift shop with an outstanding selection of jewelry, bags and more.
“Future Perfect” shows at the University of Guadalajara’s MUSA, at the corner of Juarez and Enrique Diaz de Leon near the Expiatorio church, until July 2. “Alpi” is shown continuously, beginning more or less on the hour, starting at 10 a.m. Tel. (33) 3134-1664. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays. No charge to enter. See www.musa.udg.mx.