As part of the entourage of the annual book fair (Feria Internacional de Libros), Guadalajara’s premier museums normally mount impressive displays of artwork emanating from the invited county, city or region, frequently those with a connection to Mexican culture – in the past Los Angeles (2009), Latin America (2016) and regions of Spain, such as Andalusia (2006) and Castilla y León (2010).
This year, Madrid takes center stage. And the artwork showing at the centrally located Instituto Cultural Cabañas and University of Guadalajara’s Museo de las Artes (MUSA) naturally reflects the stature of Spain’s capital.
There is an enduring attitude of gratitude flowing from Spain to Mexico due to the shelter offered to Spanish refugees during Spain’s civil war in the late 1930s, an act of benevolence recognized by the “madrileños” in the first of about 10 large salons devoted to ‘Pongamos que Hablo de Madrid’ (Let’s say I’m talking about Madrid) at the Cabañas. (It goes without saying that Mexico and Spain also share the less happy history of the Conquest, which brought the first wave of immigrants—500 soldiers. In addition, the controversial president Porfirio Diaz invited many Spaniards to Mexico and, most recently, economic refugees flocked here after the 2008 financial crisis.)
‘Pongamos que Hablo de Madrid’ strongly evidences the architecture of Madrid in its large-scale paintings and photographs. It also reflects the Movida Madrileña (the Madrid Scene), a hedonistic cultural movement of the 1970s. The movement took shape after the long-hoped-for death of dictator Francisco Franco (on the winning side after Spain’s civil war). With the end of authoritarianism, Movida naturally took up with other counter-cultural artists of the day, such as the Americans Andy Warhol and Robert Mapplethorpe.
The Cabañas also features another, smaller show in concert with the FIL. “El Mural del Milenio” (The Mural of Milenio) exhibits 34 paintings of identical size (120 x 170 centimeters) and one sculpture commissioned from Jalisco artists by this leading newspaper. The artists, all active and well known locally, include Rocio Coffeen, José Fors and José Parra, among others. They were asked to illustrate themes deemed ecological: air, water, earth, ether and fire. Only two artists chose ether.
Besides marking the start of this year’s FIL, the Milenio exhibit also commemorates the 20th anniversary of UNESCO’s declaration of the Cabañas building, designed by architect Manuel Tolsá and housing the famous mural by Orozco in its central chapel, as a World Heritage site.
“Pongamos que Hablo de Madrid” and “El Mural del Milenio” both last until February 25 at Instituto Cultural Cabañas, Calle Cabañas 8, Guadalajara. (33) 3668 1642. www.hospiciocabanas.jalisco.gob.mx. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays. Entrance fee is 70 pesos, 45 for those with Mexican IDs, 20 for children and seniors with IDs. No fee to enter on Tuesdays.
“Fragmentos de la Memoria II; Elena Asins” is at University of Guadalajara’s MUSA until February 28. Avenida Juárez 975, corner of Enrique Díaz de León, Guadalajara. (33) 3134 1664. www.musa.udg.mx. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays. Closed December 25 and January 1.
Brilliance and calculus
A series of large pieces by Elena Asins draws attention at the University of Guadalajara’s MUSA, where the work of this Madrid artist who died in 2015 fills the entire second floor. Asins’ work, which has been called conceptual, avant garde and constructive, was influenced by op-art, minimalism and data computing. The stark contrast shown here is atypical of the exhibition, ‘Fragmentos de la Memoria II’ (Fragments of Memory II), which, on the whole, consists of brilliant white fields inhabited by delicate, geometric lines and light shapes. The show lasts until February 28. Museo de las Artes, Juárez 975, corner of Enrique Diaz de Leon, Guadalajara. Tel. (33) 3134 1664. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays. No charge to enter.