57th International Art Exhibition. Viva Arte Viva (2017)
Life in the folds
One of the principal statements of art is the expression of reality in every single period of our history; focusing in this perspective, the artist Carlos Amorales (Mexico City, 1970) introduced his job titled “Life in the folds” during the 57th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.
With the curatorship of Pablo León de la Barra (Mexico City, 1972), the exhibition of Amorales was assembled in the historic building known as the Arsenale, the official venue of the Mexican Pavilion in this edition. The search of new ways of language to avoid the censorship applied in several mass media was the main topic in the job of the Mexican artist.
For this installation, many ocarinas were made to create an encrypted alphabet which can be interpreted both textually and phonetically because each ocarina emits a different sound according to the letter or sign that represents. Also, Amorales designed diverse music sheets whose notes are presented in an abstract way with the objective to create a new and innovative method of perception and interpretation in every visitor. All these elements converge in the film “The cursed village”, a story about a migrant family that is lynched when they arrive in a little town.
The Mexican Pavilion got high relevance to be the suitable reflect of the main events of 2017, like the renegotiation of North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the massive migratory movements presented in several regions of the world.
Artist: Carlos Amorales
Curatorship: Pablo León de la Barra
Commissioner: Gabriela Gil Verenzuela
Gallery
News
Mexican Pavilion at the Venice Biennale
Carlos Amorales - Life in the folds. Curated by Pablo León De La Barra.e-flux Nov. 9, 2017
VENICE BIENNALE 2017: RETHINKING IDENTITY FROM THE BASIS OF ART
Critical reflection, through aesthetic terms, around identity and how otherness is key in the construction of “us” in relation to “them” is also emphasized in the work of Carlos Amorales (México, 1970), developed for the Mexican pavilion, titled Life in the Folds (2017) and curated by Pablo León de la Barra.Colección Cisneros Sept. 4, 2017
Trump, the Refugee Crisis and Sensory Deprivation: A Guide to Venice’s Art Biennale
Here are our picks of some of the best shows to see.Paste Magazine July 21, 2017
La Biennale non é viva? Niente affatto!
Parla Pablo León de la Barra, curator at large del Guggenheim di New York e del Padiglione messicano, tra le persone più influenti del mondo dell’arte secondo ArtReview.Exibart July 9, 2017
Paviljongernas vara (Venedigbiennalen 5)
I den mexikanska paviljongen har Carlos Amorales med sin La vida en los pliegues (Livet i vecken, th och allra överst) skapat en grafisk installation som iscensätter en verklighetsbaserad berättelse om en migrerande familjs lynchning i en utländsk stad.Konsten June 27, 2017
Die zehn besten nationalen Pavillons – Biennale Venedig 2017 Fäuste, Follies, Trolle
Die Top 10: Deutschland, Großbritannien, die USA, Finnland, Rumänien, Mexiko, Südafrika, Italien, Libanon und Island – Ein Rundgang durch die besten Pavillons der 57. Internationalen Kunstausstellung in Venedig.Kulturraumverdichtung June 17, 2017
Life in the folds
The composite work of Carlos Amorales mixes print, sculpture and cinema to give shape to an installation of great formal rigour, which comes to life thanks to music.Domus May 30, 2017
The 15 Must-See Shows at the 2017 Venice Biennale
Artist Carlos Amorales also enters the world of fantasy at the Mexico Pavilion with a collection of some 1,000 whistles that form letters of an imagined alphabet.AFAR May 22, 2017
Pavilions to love at the 57th Venice Art Biennale
Mexico. The real and the abstract evoke moods of curiosity, mystery and tension in very cryptic pieces in this installation by Carlos Amorales.The Daily Tribune May 17, 2017
A la Biennale de Venise, les pavillons remarquables
La 57e biennale d’art de Venise fermera ses portes le 26 novembre 2017. Plusieurs pavillons, dont celui de l’Allemande Anne Imhof, ont fait sensations lors des premiers jours du vernissage. Tour d’horizon des pavillons préférés de La Croix.La Croix May 16, 2017
Carlos Amorales at Mexican Pavilion, Venice Biennale
Carlos Amorales interviewed by Francesco Scasciamacchia.Mousse Magazine May 15, 2017
Alla Biennale di Venezia: il Messico presenta Life in the folds di Carlos Amorales
Il Messico alla 57. Esposizione Internazionale di Arte della Biennale di Venezia presenta Life in the folds di Carlos Amorales.Art a Part of Culture May 13, 2017
57th Venice Biennale: Arsenale Pavilions
Highlights of the National Pavilions in the Arsenale.Frieze May 12, 2017
57th Venice Biennale: Get to Know the Artists of the Must-See National Pavilions
In keeping with the theme of the exhibition by this year’s curator, Christine Macel, Viva Arte Viva, in which she “orientate[s] the Biennale toward the art and the artists,” we are looking at the most sensational National Pavilions through the artists whose art will activate them.The Huffington Post May 11, 2017
State of the nations: our pick of the Venice Biennale pavilions
Highlights from the Giardini and Arsenale as the art world's biggest event gets underway.The Art Newspaper May 9, 2017
SPOILER BIENNALE: Carlos Amorales
«Ho vissuto un ciclo: apertura verso il globale e chiusura verso il nazionale». Parla il “Messico” di Carlos Amorales.Exibart May 3, 2017
Mexican Pavilion at the Venice Biennale
Curated by Pablo León de la Barra.e-flux April 27, 2017
“Life in the Folds”: Carlos Amorales Unveils his Project for the Mexican Pavilion at the Venice Biennale
On the occasion of our trip to Mexico City to attend Zona Maco 2017, we interviewed Mexican artist Carlos Amorales to give us a preview of the project he will present for the Mexican Pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale.My Art Guides April 4, 2017
