Part of a curator’s role is to pose certain questions—sometimes even to resolve them—but we could say, in the simplest terms, that a curator tells stories. Aire Fresco En El Verano Del Amor is an exhibition organized by Abraham Cruzvillegas for Campeche, and although the artist does not consider himself a curator, with this group show he tells the story of each of its participants, of contemporary art in Mexico, and even of his own history.
Organized by Abraham Cruzvillegas for Campeche, this is not an exhibition but a life project, centered on friendship and affection.
- Stefanía Fibela
Throughout his career, Cruzvillegas has participated in various group exhibitions, such as Aire Fresco En El Verano Del Amor, curated by Guillermo Santamarina in 1987, from which this exhibition takes its title, echoing not only the artist’s own past but also the history of the city’s art scene.
In addition to his artistic practice, Cruzvillegas has also been dedicated to teaching. He has taught at the Escuela Nacional de Escultura, Pintura y Grabado “La Esmeralda” in Mexico City and at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. For this reason, the group show includes the work of Sarah Konté, Eun Sol Lee, Sofía Bonilla, and Milana Gabriel, who were his students in Paris.
Likewise, the exhibition features works by other artists such as Mónica Herrera, Abraham González Pacheco, and Salvador Xharicata, whom Cruzvillegas met through friends, at “La Esmeralda,” at gatherings, and through chance encounters—artists in whom he found not only colleagues but also friends.
Cruzvillegas remarks that this is not simply an exhibition, but rather the result of a life project: “For me, this is a manifesto of friendship that takes the form of an exhibition,” something that becomes evident once we come to know each of the works that make up Aire Fresco En El Verano Del Amor.
At first glance, there may seem to be no obvious common thread among the works and artists: they come from different nationalities, each uses distinct formats and techniques, they do not share the same themes or create from the same concerns. However, what unites them all is friendship, affection, and admiration for Cruzvillegas.
The artists participating in this exhibition are Abraham González Pacheco, Abraham Julian Togar, Alejandra Avilés, Andrés Garay, Ángel Marcano, Anousha Mohtashami, Ayako Sakuragi, Bayo Álvaro, Eun Sol Lee, Gabriel Moraes Aquino, Guillermo Santamarina, Javier Carro, Gustavo Rodríguez Valtierra, Marcela Calderón Bony, Milana Gabriel, Mónica Herrera, Salvador Xharicata, Obed Calixto, Rita Ponce de León, Sofía Bonilla Otoya, Sarah Konté, and Wayzatta Fernández.
Aire Fresco En El Verano Del Amor will be presented until October 21st of 2023 in Galería Campeche, Campeche 130, Roma Sur.
September 26, 2023
