The University Museum of Contemporary Art
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V Ojees of Mexico /April • June, 1994 33 The University Museum of Contemporary Art he University Museum of Contemporary Art (formerly the University Science and Art Museum) was set up in 1960 Tnext to the Architecture Faculty in University City. From the time of its establishment until last November, the museum alternated art exhibitions with exhibits on scientific and humanistic topics. However, since the creation of the "Universum" Science Museum (see Voices of Mexico 25), it has been exclusively devoted to contemporary art. Occupying 2,800 square yards, its adaptability has made it a model for other museums. In 1961, Julio Scherer, then a reporter for Excélsior newspaper, wrote that the museum Sebastian, Cathedral, painted metal, 1989. "Has a spacious entrance hall.... Simply walking inside gives Some of there exhibitions have had January 1961 saw the one a marvelous impression. great museological importance. inauguration of the exhibition The museum's construction —there The first exhibitions held here "Artistic Treasures of Peru," which are no pillars— is certainly were "Pre-Columbian Art of the Gulf," included 212 pieces of gold and eye-catching. But the light inside, coinciding with the American Society Peruvian art from all periods. Visitors which permits full visibility due to of Anthropology's first meeting in flocked to see the exhibition, whose the combination of natural and Mexico, and the "First Salon of Student success is still remembered. artificial light, is what is initially Painting at UNAM," which included In 1968, the museum held an most striking." 194 paintings by 80 beginning artists exhibition on "Kinetic Art," which The University Museum of who participated in the First University brought apparatuses that worked with Contemporary Art holds about four Painting Competition. light, electricity, water, foam or large exhibitions and three smaller El Universal newspaper (March 8, bubbles and earth. ones annually, thanks to the 1960) commented, "Doubtless some The 18 kinetic settings were participation of institutions and private of the great Mexican painters of the produced by artists from 11 countries, collectors who lend their art future will be included among the and aimed to rediscover natural collections for this purpose. competitors." As indeed they were. The elements through technical and During its three decades of first and second prize-winners, Miguel mechanical means. The museum was existence, the museum has held Hernández Urbán and Edmundo conceived as a labyrinthine unit in painting, sculpture, engraving and Aquino Pérez respecrively, as well as which the public would move from photography exhibitions, covering such Leonardo Nierman, who received one setting to the next to experience diverse topics as astronomy, honorable mention, would take part in the impact of each work. mathematics, biology, law, accounting, the 1990 exhibition, "Three Decades of Among the most striking rooms were those with stroboscopic light, and industrial and graphic design. Plastic Expression." Oto fl 4 ;0494 0.4,4 :13 VOiCeS of Mexico /April • June, 1994 Leopoldo Flores, Man-Sun, Cosmovitral of Toluca. Jorge Quiroz, Isabel Ciberneta, mixed media, 1988. tes. Doran io tes. Serg Doran io Serg "2000 A.D." exhibition. A sample of the beautiful layout of "2000 A.D." exhibition. Xavier Esqueda, Monument, oil on canvas, 1988. Leopoldo Flores, Don't Cry, My Daughters of Jerusalem, 1993. 35 Leopoldo Flores, Jesus in the River, 1993. o Miguel Hernández Urbán, Family, acrylic on canvas, 1990. o Leopoldo Flores, Hanged vy ith His Umbilical Cord (center), 1983. tes. n Dora io Serg Entrance to the "2000 A.D." exhibition. Leopoldo Flores, Andromeda, Cosmovitral of Toluca. Benjamín ar , Domínguez, Hell, oil on canvas, 1989. 36 Arturo Rivera, Region of Variations, oil on canvas, 1987-1989. Ana Luisa Domini, Nocturnal Butterfly, 1986. Leonardo Nierman, Genesis, mixed media on fiberboard, 1990. Tapio Wirkkala, Last Bulrush, mural on wood, 1972. Brian Nissen, Medium Profile, acrylic on canvas, 1981. Esther González, The Ermine Woman, oil on canvas, 1990. V OiCeS of MeXiCO /April • June, 1994 Carmen Padín, Plumed Village, "ixtle" fibers, 1980. Fernando Ramos Prida, Three and Time, acrylic on canas, 1980. r Salvador Pinoncelly, In God We Trust, stained glass, 1986. Augusto Escobedo, Metamorphosis of Form, "lost-wax" bronze, 1976. Carla Rippey, Annunciation, pencil drawing, 1989. Felipe Ehrenberg, Conceptual Art, acrylic on fiberboard, 1968. 38 V oices of Mexico /April • June, 1994 Paintings, sculptures, engravings, serigraphy, stained-glass windows and multimedia techniques make up this important collection. Almost- monochrome canvasses contrast with works from the most diverse trends: Realism, Surrealism, Hyper-realism, Geometrism, Abstract Art, Conceptualism, Expressionism, Op Art and naive art. The museum houses a number of collections that make up part of the university's heritage. These include gifts offered by the visiting Olympic delegations in 1968 as a symbol of fratemity. The museum has benefitted from tes. the acquisition of the Spratling Doran collection, archeological pieces from io Veracruz from the pre-Classic period; Serg "2000 A.D." comprises 80 acrylic canvasses, mostly 6.5' by 6.5' in size. the Rosch collection, 800 pieces from the pre-Classic period of the central electric noise-sensitive light and light the thought and experiences of this highlands, and the Hecht collection, energy, and those with storm great personality. with Oriental and African sculptures. simulators, smoke, foam and laser rays. One of the exhibitions with the The museum also holds Diego One of the participating artists greatest impact was "Death: Mexican Rivera's sketches for his artistic remarked, "Seeing is no longer the Expressions of an Enigma," which project for the university stadium and most important means of acquiring showcased the 'best of Mexican art Carlos Mérida's sketches for knowledge. Listening, shouting, on the subject. Inaugurated in decorating the mural at the Juárez touching and smelling are now more November 1974, the exhibition was housing complex. important.... Art has invaded the field so successful that it remained open The University Museum of of natural energy and technology." until April 1975. Contemporary Art is currently holding The exhibition called "A Viking "Sebastian, A Universe of Forms" the "2000 A.D." exhibition by in Mexico" was also held in 1968. The (1987) combined the twin talents of Leopoldo Flores, creator of the Toluca Finnish artist Tapio Wirkkala the sculptor Sebastian and the museum "Cosmovitral," with its 3520 square astounded the public with his work specialist Rodolfo Rivera. Elisa García yards of stained-glass windows, Ultima tule (The Last Bulrush), a Barragán, former director of the considered one of the largest and most magnificent wood carving thirteen by Institute for Aesthetic Research, important works in this genre. thirty feet in size. commented on the exhibition: "The The spectacular "2000 A.D." In 1969, the highly-successful dialogue between the two creators exhibition comprises 80 acrylic "Independent Salon" presented works extended to the spectator, who was canvasses, mostly 6.5' by 6.5' in size, by avant-garde Mexican painters. In the therefore able to integrate himself into in addition to three 16.5-foot-long words of the painter José Luis Cuevas, the aesthetic relationship...." cloth murals and fifty seven- by nine- "This is not a commercial exhibition. It The outstanding exhibition foot modules by the artist, who is the result of a struggle to break away "Three Decades of Plastic Expression" regards himself as a continuator of from official art. Its main feature is was organized in 1990 to Mexican muralism. The exhibition freedom of expression. All plastic commemorate the museum's thirtieth also includes 250 napkin drawings, all trends are represented here." anniversary. The 114 Mexican and showcased in a magnificent museum That same year saw a different foreign participating artists, some of setting designed in accordance with kind of exhibition, "The Life and whom had been members of the the works' themes and features N Works of Thomas Mann," in which "Independent Salon" in 1969, donated photographs, books, manuscripts the works shown in the exhibition to Marybel Toro Gayol and testimonies were used to illustrate the National University of Mexico. Managing Editor. .