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 , 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 .

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, 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 Sergio Dorantes. photographs, books, manuscripts and testimonies wereusedtoillustrate kind ofexhibition,"TheLife and trends arerepresentedhere." Works ofThomasMann,"in which freedom ofexpression.Allplastic "This isnotacommercialexhibition.It words ofthepainterJoséLuisCuevas, by avant-gardeMexicanpainters.Inthe thirty feetinsize. from officialart.Itsmainfeatureis is theresultofastruggletobreakaway "Independent Salon"presentedworks magnificent woodcarvingthirteenby Finnish artistTapioWirkkala touching andsmellingarenowmore astounded thepublicwithhiswork in Mexico"wasalsoheld1968.The of naturalenergyandtechnology." important.... Arthasinvadedthefield knowledge. Listening,shouting, most importantmeansofacquiring remarked, "Seeingisnolongerthe energy, andthosewithstorm electric noise-sensitivelightand Ultima tule simulators, smoke,foamandlaserrays. "2000 A.D." That sameyearsawadifferent In 1969,thehighly-successful The exhibitioncalled"AViking One oftheparticipatingartists (The LastBulrush),a comprises 80acryliccanvasses,mostly6.5'byinsize. the NationalUniversity ofMexico. the worksshown intheexhibitionto whom hadbeenmembersofthe "Independent Salon"in1969, donated was organizedin1990to the aestheticrelationship...." therefore abletointegratehimselfinto the sculptorSebastianandmuseum November 1974,theexhibitionwas foreign participatingartists,some of anniversary. The114Mexican and commemorate themuseum's thirtieth "Three DecadesofPlasticExpression" extended tothespectator,whowas Barragán, formerdirectorofthe (1987) combinedthetwintalentsof until April1975. dialogue betweenthetwocreators commented ontheexhibition:"The Institute forAestheticResearch, specialist RodolfoRivera.ElisaGarcía so successfulthatitremainedopen on thesubject.Inauguratedin Expressions ofanEnigma,"which greatest impactwas"Death:Mexican great personality. the thoughtandexperiencesofthis showcased the'bestofMexicanart The outstandingexhibition "Sebastian, AUniverseofForms" One oftheexhibitionswith the works'themesandfeatures regards himselfasacontinuatorof setting designedinaccordance with showcased inamagnificentmuseum also includes250napkindrawings, all .Theexhibition cloth muralsandfiftyseven-bynine- foot modulesbytheartist,who in additiontothree16.5-foot-long canvasses, mostly6.5'byinsize, exhibition comprises80acrylic important worksinthisgenre. considered oneofthelargestandmost yards ofstained-glasswindows, "Cosmovitral," withits3520square Leopoldo Flores,creatoroftheToluca the "2000A.D."exhibitionby housing complex. project fortheuniversitystadiumand Contemporary Artiscurrentlyholding decorating themuralatJuárez Carlos Mérida'ssketchesfor Rivera's sketchesforhisartistic with OrientalandAfricansculptures. the pre-Classicperiodofcentral the acquisitionofSpratling highlands, andtheHechtcollection, the Roschcollection,800piecesfrom Veracruz fromthepre-Classicperiod; Olympic delegationsin1968asa the university'sheritage.These Art andnaiveart. collection, archeologicalpiecesfrom symbol offratemity. include giftsofferedbythevisiting of collectionsthatmakeuppart Conceptualism, Expressionism,Op Geometrism, AbstractArt, Realism, Surrealism,Hyper-realism, works fromthemostdiversetrends: monochrome canvassescontrastwith multimedia techniquesmakeupthis important collection.Almost- serigraphy, stained-glasswindowsand V oicesofMexico The spectacular"2000A.D." The UniversityMuseumof The museumalsoholdsDiego The museumhasbenefittedfrom The museumhousesanumber Paintings, sculptures,engravings, Marybel Toro Gayol /April Managing Editor. • June,1994 N