Zona Maco 2018
Photo Courtesy of Sybaris Collection
The leading art fair in Mexico, the 2018 Zona Maco celebrates its 15th annual presentation of international art. Consisting of more than 70 galleries of over 2000 artists, this international collection of artworks spans the gamut of contemporary techniques. From silver sculptures to vintage photography, art institution and publication displays, there is much to be experienced at this event. After attending Zona Maco, I wanted to share with you some of the pieces we loved:
Duo de Congas Gris y Natural, Los Carpinteros (2015)
Photo Courtesy of Sybaris Collection
One of several works of this style created by this team, this piece goes beyond the boundaries arranged as a collective, merging architecture and design. They reinterpret conceptualism and activism in this playful drum sculpture. This Cuban duo, Marco Antonio Castillo Valdes and Dagoberto Rodriguez Sanchez, have been creating work together since their days at the Havana Art Academy.
030, Robert Lazzarini (2017)
Photo Courtesy of Sybaris Collection
This acrylic on canvas piece challenges the viewer’s perception, creating a confusion in the visual effect. To recognize what is presented, the viewer must interact with the piece, revealing the image upon detailed reflection. American artist Robert Lazzarini exhibits his captivation with both common and ethically-sensitive objects, such as guns, forcing enthusiasts to reconsider the general attitude about the subject and judge its use as an accepted tool in history.
The Suit Makes the Man, Alejandro Almanza Pereda (2017)
Photo Courtesy of Sybaris Collection
This cast concrete and rebar piece leads the viewer to wonder to whom they belong, as it is impossible to consider the absence of the “man” in this two-piece sculpture. One is left with the uncertainty of whether identity is derived from humanity or it is the other way around. This Mexico City-born artist takes vintage objects, combined with everyday materials to create large-scale sculptures which challenge physics.
Untitled, Ron Gorchov
Photo Courtesy of Sybaris Collection
This piece presents a different pictorial field, unlike traditional canvases with their 90° angles. This unusual canvas, stretched across his distinctive saddle-shaped stretcher bars, is a hallmark of American Ron Gorchov’s oil on linen paintings. Gorchov’s works are displayed at MoMA, the Met, and the Whitney Museum, among others.
These works are only a few of the outstanding representations of creativity found at this year’s Zona Maco. Visitors were raced with new perspectives, opportunities for reflection, and offered new theories of engagement and personal expression in this diverse collection of international artists.
Pittore, Michelangelo Pistoletto (1962-1982)
Photo Courtesy of Sybaris Collection
Using metallic paint grounds on silkscreen before discarding it for polished steel, this 250.3 × 125.3 cm work celebrates the blend of both old (silkscreen) and new (polished steel) methods into one timeless piece. This is an outstanding example of his work, which has been pivotal in the development of the Arte Povera and Conceptual Art in Italy.
