Since the days when Frida Kahlo and Diego
Rivera first splashed their way onto the world art scene, Mexico
City has gained a reputation as a place where artists grow and
where museums flourish. Thats more true today than ever, with an
ever-increasing number of museums exhibiting everything from
ancient artifacts to cutting-edge contemporary art.
And with new
galleries popping up in the chic Roma and Condesa districts, this
city -- the largest in North America -- has more opportunities for
art collectors to expand their private collections, too.
Spoiled
for choice
Chapultepec Park,
Mexico Citys vast, green lung, is home to some of the capitals
best-known museums, such as the National Anthropology Museum, or
Museo Nacional de Antropologia.
The museum, one
of the worlds largest such anthropological collections, could
easily take a few days to fully visit.
In addition to
permanent exhibitions documenting the history of Mexico itself, the
museum also features a variety of temporary exhibits with broader
themes.
For example,
through the end of February, visitors can see Medieval Spain and
the Arrival From the West, which focuses on the formation of
medieval Spain with items from the 10th through the 15th
centuries.
Unfortunately for
amateur archaeologists, part of the museums permanent Aztec
collection is temporarily on exhibit in London and will return in
the middle of 2006.
Also in
Chapultepec Park is the National History Museum (Museo Nacional
de Historia), housed in Chapultepec Castle, which once served
as luxurious home to Maximilian, the Hapsburg emperor who had a
brief reign in Mexico in the mid-19th century.
Children can
enjoy an afternoon at El Papalote, the citys kids museum, which
features plenty of hands-on activities for youngsters of all
ages.
For a satisfying
taste of Mexico Citys rich contemporary art scene, visitors head to
the Museo de Arte Moderno, a modern art museum packed with
galleries featuring contemporary painting, sculpture, photography
and lithography.
Nearby is the
Museo Rufino Tamayo, named for the famous Mexican painter who died
in 1991, leaving a massive collection of his own work as well as
pieces by such Mexican contemporary artists as Jose Clemente
Orozco, Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siquieros.
Also on display
are works by foreign artists such as Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.
The museum is presenting Jesus Rafael Soto: Vision in Movement,
featuring works by the Venezuelan painter who used two- and
three-dimensional elements, through Jan. 29.
Mexico Citys
Centro Historico, the increasingly restored historic center, is
also home to several noteworthy museums and galleries.
The Museo Franz
Mayer, next to the Alameda Central park, exhibits decorative arts
as well as contemporary design and photography. Through Jan. 29,
the museum is hosting Centro Historico, a collection of photographs
depicting the transformation of the city center from 1920 to
1940.
From Feb. 2
through April 6, the museum will host Import-Export: Change and
Exchange, which focuses on British and Mexican design in jewelry,
fashion and graphics, through the work of 14 designers from each
country.
Housed in a
former Mexico City convent is the Laboratorio Arte Alameda, or
Alameda Art Laboratory, which through Feb. 19 is showing Dataspace,
a multimedia contemporary art exhibit with virtual and interactive
installations.
Also nearby is
the Image Center, or Centro de la Imagen, which hosts photography
exhibits. Now through Feb. 12, visitors can see Diaspora, a
collection of work by French photographer Frederic Brenner that
documents Jewish life in far-reaching parts of the
globe.
On display at the
same time is Young Carers by South African photographer Michelle
Sank, depicting young people who care for sick parents and
siblings.
Private
capital
Countless
privately owned galleries have sprouted in the trendy districts of
Roma and Condesa. Both neighborhoods are good for clients who like
to browse or collect the work of Mexicos hottest new artists, such
as Gabriel Orozco, who was born in Veracruz in 1962 and is known
for his creative use of everyday objects from the urban
landscape.
Other noteworthy
contemporary artists include Daniela Rossell, born in 1973 in
Mexico City, whose book of over-the-top photographs of the citys
ultradecadent elite, Ricas y Famosas, or Rich and Famous, caused a
stir when it was published in 2002.
Her photographs
are available in book form to collectors with limited budgets, and
Orozcos original work is available at Kurimnzutto, a gallery in
Condesa that represents a number of contemporary
artists.
Another hot new
gallery is Proyectos Monclova, in Roma, which represents Mexican
and foreign artists.
Galeria OMR, also
in Roma, exhibits and represents a variety of early and current
contemporary artists. The gallery is hosting the works of two
artists from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art until Feb.
12.
To contact
reporter Mark Chesnut, send e-mail [email protected].