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.
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