The buzz about the Fernando García Ponce retrospective, showing at the venerable Instituto Cultural Cabañas in downtown Guadalajara until August 25, follows at least two divergent lines.
One school of thought barely takes notice of this showing of 65 collages and paintings, calling it a “lukewarm” effort on the part of the newly installed state government authorities, who just took the helm of the ship of culture in March.
Those holding this ho-hum attitude may recognize Ponce’s name — after some thought — and his inclusion in “La Ruptura” [The Rupture] generation of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, which thumbed its nose at the much more famous “Muralismo Mexicano” [Mexican mural] school.
But the ho-hummers can’t seem to work up any enthusiasm about Ponce’s abstract compositions nor for La Ruptura’s withering critique of the icons of Mexican muralism, Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros and Jose Clemente Orozco, who worked earlier, primarily in the 1920s, 30s and 40s. La Ruptura went so far as to brand the muralists as captives behind “La cortina de nopal” (the cactus curtain), a reference to socialist forces, such as 1930s President Lazaro Cardenas, who commissioned many famous murals with ringing nationalism and glorification of Mexico’s mestizo identity.
On the other side of the fence are art lovers who sadly acknowledge that Ponce is not recognized outside of Mexico and that his work sells for a paltry price, but still find the show wonderful. They may see that other artists and movements influenced Ponce, such as Kurt Schwitters, Matter Painting, Abstact Expressionism or Cubism and thus may not see Ponce’s work as groundbreaking. But they find it very good nonetheless.
On a recent Tuesday, the day of free entrance to Instituto Cultural Cabañas, the gallery was crowded. If visitors are voting with their feet, then Ponce has received a thumbs up. And if there are any doubts, visitors need only step into the Capilla (chapel) Tolsa, the jewel of the Cabañas, to see a prime example of a mural by Ponce’s arch-enemy Jose Clemente Orozco, whom Ponce derided as a prisoner behind the Cactus Curtain. From there, visitors can decide for themselves on which side of the fence to plant themselves.
Instituto Cultural Cabañas, Plaza Tapatia (Cabañas 8) about five blocks behind Teatro Degollado. Tel: (33) 3668-1640. Cost: 70 pesos for adult foreigners; 20 pesos for seniors and children 6 to 12 years old. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Tuesdays free.