Contemporary Mexican Art and an Interview with Artist Alfonso Fernandez Benitez

Although Mexico has a rich cultural history of art spanning centuries from pre-Hispanic art to colonial art to modern art, the general knowledge and recognition of this art is limited.  The artists and art of the nineteenth century, especially those following the 1910 Revolution are by far the most recognized and famous.  The artists of the muralist movement, in particular Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueiros, and modernist painter Kahlo have come to embody the essence of Mexico and Mexican art outside of the country while other contributions have received much less attention. Preceding and following these artists and styles of art, Mexico has produced interesting and significant art that has not been appreciated on a scale equal to that of its counterparts in the U.S. and Europe, especially not by those outside of the insular art world. I believe that the limitations of the Mexican art market are attributable to several factors including stereotypes, lack of national support and resources for the arts, and the underuse of technology for promotion and marketing.  Through the exploration of contemporary galleries, artists, and exhibitions, and an interview with a contemporary Mexican artist, I will attempt to illuminate the current art scene in Mexico and propose ideas for its development and increased visibility.

 Outline:

I. Brief history of Mexican art

-artists

-styles of art

-historical and social significance

 II. Contemporary Mexican art

-market trends

-artists and art

-patrons/dealers/galleries

-significance in international art scene

III. Future of Mexican art

-issues of visibility

-promoting and supporting national interest in art

-strategies for marketing improvements

IV. Interview with contemporary Mexican artist

Interview Questions:

What kind of art do you make? Tell me about your art, how would you describe it, what are the themes, what do you want to express?  I see that you have a mix of styles (abstract, still life, figures etc.) why such a variety? What style do you enjoy doing the most?  How do you decide what to paint (is it dependent on demand, commissions, trends of market, or own preference)?

What gallery/dealer are you signed with? What are the conditions of the contract (length, amount of art production required, gallery/dealers cut)? Who are the most powerful dealers/galleries in Mexico?

What does the contemporary art market look like from your perspective? What styles are popular/trendy with patrons? Who is buying your art? What style of your art is most popular and why do you think this is so? What type of patron do you like to sell to?  How much is your art selling for? Has any of your work been sold at auction?

Do you think Mexicans value art? Is the national market for Mexican art strong? Do you think that the Mexican government supports the arts adequately?  

Who are other contemporary artists who you admire?  What artists influence your work?

What are your plans and goals for the future?

Sources:

Articles:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/26/arts/26iht-trmex.2055689.html

http://universes-in-universe.org/eng/bien/venice_biennale/2009/tour/mexico/cuauhtemoc_medina

http://www.proceso.com.mx/?p=289515

Critics:

Cuauhtémoc Medina

http://www.banffcentre.ca/faculty/faculty-member/3558/cuauhtmoc-medina.mvc

www.arte-mexico.com/critica/cm.htm

Raquel Tibol

http://www.radiomexicointernacional.imer.gob.mx/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=197:hablemos-de-arte&catid=35:programas&Itemid=27

Museums:

http://www.museomaco.com/

http://www.munal.com.mx/

http://www.bellasartes.gob.mx/index.php/engli.html

http://www.muac.unam.mx/webpage/index.php

Fairs:

http://www.artesvisualesyucatan.com.mx/

http://zonamaco.com/

Galleries:

http://www.galeriaomr.com/

http://www.ninamenocal.com/

http://www.kurimanzutto.com/

http://www.garashgaleria.com/

http://www.galeriaenriqueguerrero.com/presentacion/presentacion.htm

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2 Comments

  1. Cheryl Finley

    Elena, this is a rich and exciting topic! I have few comments or recommendations for you and I trust you're well on your way with it. First, though, how did you decide on Alfonso Fernandez Benitiz to interview? Might you also ask him questions about the international/global circuit for his work? It would be useful, too, as in indication of his standing to get a sense of where his work has been exhibited recently and which museum or private collections own his work. I think your questions for your topic are strong and critical and they will enable you, along with your interview, to come to some very useful conclusions. I like the comparison with the era of the muralists vs. today. I wonder, too, about American imperialism and politics as a barrier to the success of some contemporary Mexican artists...Do let me know how I can help. This is a great topic, Elena. Buena suerte!

  2. user-fd7c0

    Hi Prof. Finley!  I chose Alfonso because he is a friend of my husband and we bought some of his work over the past year. While his work is selling decently locally, he has not yet reached the widespread national or international recognition that he aspires to.  I thought it would be interesting to get a look at the market from an artist's perspective as it may provide some insight into the state of contemporary Mexican art. I will ask him if he has had any exposure outside of Mexico and if his work is in any museums of private collections. Thanks!