Wendy Cabrera Rubio and Josué Mejía present a multimedia installation titled Apocalipto. In it, a robot toucan and a macaw hold a discussion about Mexican identity through some of architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez’s work and projects related to the representation of the Mexican nation in the mid 20th century. Their conversation revisits problematic aspects of representation in the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico and of indigenous peoples. Not only confusing aspects about Mexican historical identity are key to the project, but also the values of replica in regards to scaled versions of modern Mexico for exportation. How to create the fiction of the indigenous world and at the same time synthetize live cultural systems are questions brought up through case studies such as the theme park Xcaret, in which 1:1 replicas of the Mayan world take part in the intention to demonstrate to the world the rich and complex cultural heritage of Mexico – a State strategy that appropriates the Pre-Colombian arts.
“Doireann O'Malley's Prototypes are a film trilogy that explores gender and its manifestations in a post-speculative mind/body assemblage of scenes, set within the modernist Interbau housing development in the Hansaviertel area of Berlin. In the films, the viewer is guided sonically and visually through various dream-and land-scapes, observing psychoanalytic references to both shamanistic pasts and speculative futures that evoke alternate modes of existence. We meet the protagonists who interact with undefined technologies and it appears ambiguous as to whether they are rendering themselves in a virtual world, a potential future, or creating their present. In fact, throughout Prototypes there is little to distinguish between ‘the symbolic, the imaginary, and the real’.” ("Queering Boundaries" by Lou Drago, in Prototypes, Sternberg Press and The Edith Russ Haus for Media Art, and the Hugh Lane Gallery, 2019.)
As part of the public program of the exhibition the gallery presents a conversation between Doireann O`Malley and Susana Vargas, writer and researcher.
This exhibition organized by Toni Sadurni Viñas, director and partner of Galerie Nordenhake Mexico and was made possible thanks to the generosity of Culture Ireland.
Special thanks to AKIAORA for its support in the production of the project Apocalipto.
Wendy Cabrera Rubio was born in 1993 in Mexico City, where she currently lives and works. She is a founding member of Rivera an independent platform of production, discussion and exhibition of contemporary art in Mexico City. Recent exhibitions include: Wendy Cabrera Rubio & Charlie Godet Thomas: "Cómo hacer que una pintura se comporte como un paisaje", Museo Jumex, Mexico, Mexico City, (2020) "Salon de Arte Panamericano", Kurimanzutto, Mexico City, Mexico (2020); "From Us to You: Contemporary Mexican Painting in Times of Change" in collaboration with Josué Mejía, Queens, California, USA, (2019); "Apocalipto" in collaboration with Josué Mejía Galerie Nordenhake Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico; "Courage! Near Infra Red" Rinomina, Paris, curated by Abraham Cruzvillegas (2018); "Nuevo manifiesto de cine mexicano" Lodos Gallery, Mexico City (2018); “Temporary Realities” Galería Karen Huber, Mexico City, Mexico, (2018); “Autoconstrucción Detritus”. MUCA, Mexico City, Mexico (2018), curated by Abraham Cruzvillegas (2018); “La Historia la Escriben los Vencedores”, Biquini Wax EPS (solo), Mexico City (2017); "Crossing the river”, GAMA 1/4 (solo), Mexico City, (2017); Some adwards & grants include the Beca Fundación Jumex in the area of research and the William Bullock-FEMAM Adward in Critical Museology for an artist in the project: “Museo Comunitario y Club de Lectura de Sierra Hermosa Zacatecas”, in colaboration with Biquini Wax, (2019); with LADRÓNgalería they were awarded a project support grant from the Patronato de Arte Contemporáneo (2018).
Josué Mejía was born in 1993 in Mexico City, Mexico, where he currently lives and works. He graduated in Visual Arts & Design at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. He is currently enrolled in the Educational Program of SOMA. (2018). He has participated in the Young Creators Program of FONCA (2017-2018) in the category of Alternative Media. In addition to his artistic work, he was part of Galería Autónoma FAD and he is currently a collaborator in the Laboratorio de Instrumentación Espacial LINX in the Nuclear Sciences Institute at the National University of Mexico. His work has been presented in the Guanajuto International Film Festival (2016), in the short documentary selection and in independent spaces such as NIXON, Mexico, (2017), Bikini Wax EPS with HG build fighters 1/144, Mexico (2017), and el Colegio Nacional en Libertad por el Sabor, México (2017).
Doireann O’Malley was born in 1981 in Limerick, Ireland. She currently lives and works in Berlin, Germany. Prototypes was the winner of The Berlin Art Prize (2018) and has been exhibited in The Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin (2018); the Edith Russ Haus für Medienkunst, Oldenburg; Bobs Pogo Bar at KW; Spektrum, Berlin; Mumok, Vienna; Rencontres Internationales, Paris. Doireann is currently participating in The Berlin Program for Artists, and is a recipient of the Berlin Senat Stipendium with upcoming shows in Göteborg Biennial (2019). A publication based on Doireann O’Malley’s multi-screen film installation Prototypes was recently published, produced by Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane, co-published by Sternberg Press and The Edith-Russ-Haus für Medienkunst, with essays by Lou Drago, Caspar Heinemann and Joel Kuennen (2018). Some of her works can be found at collections such as: Office of Public Works, Ireland, Bank of Ireland, Limerick City Gallery, Ireland, University of Ulster, North Ireland. O’Malley’s work references scientific and medical investigations into the human psyche that address wider philosophical concerns relating to biology, gender embodiment, sexuality, utopianism and biomolecular advancement in human evolution.
