Latin America’s most important art fair, Zona Maco, inaugurates its 10th edition this week at the Centro Banamex in Mexico City. From April 10 – 14, the fair proposes offerings in contemporary art, bringing global attention to Latin American artists and providing a meeting place for collectors, artists, and international galleries. The fair hosts five independently curated sections – main, new proposals, Zona Maco Sur, Modern Art, and for the first time a curated design section.
While other global fairs are eager to discuss sales figures and top netting works, Zona Maco’s identity is in tune with the rapid development and current hot-spot connotation of Mexico City (or “D.F” to locals), acting more as an incubator for conversations and meeting ground for the development of future projects and happenings. In 2003, the inaugural year, 22 galleries participated, and today there are 110 from Mexico and abroad. A selection committee comprised of Patricia Ortiz Monasterio (Galeria OMR), Jose Garcias (Proyectos Monclova), and Ben Loveless (Galerie Nordenhake) oversee the main section, which is intended for international galleries. This year, however, excitement grows over the evolution of the design section, including national studios such as DFC, ADN, and a studio presenting an exclusive collection for MACO spearheaded by the artist Francisco Toledo, Casa Diseño Oaxaca.
Yesterday, before the fair opened to VIPs, attendees were encouraged to visit the Colonia Roma and Condesa neighborhoods, which are home to various young galleries eager to find attention and clientele by hosting exhibitions worth seeing like FiFi Projects inaugural group show “Presages,” and a studio visit with artist Aldo Chaparro in the same building. New York/Mexico City newcomer, Anonymous Gallery, opened “The Balance of Trade,” artist Shelter Serra’s first solo exhibition in Mexico. Established outfit, Galeria OMR, presents “The Far Side of Reason” by the German/French trio Trioka, known for their works investigating sculpture, architecture, and contemporary installations. And 25 international artists and Mexican scenesters took over a large avenue in the Colonia Juarez area for a public art activation titled “Bucareli Act.”
Today attendees must visit the collection of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo at Museo Dolores Olmedo in Xochimilco, which features Bosco Sodi’s new show “Omni.” And in the evening the artist collective ANTIVJ (Yannick Jacquet, Jeremie Peeters, and Thomas Vaquie) will present their audiovisual piece “3DESTRUCT v2.”
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday the international art set will bide its time with private visits, long lunches, and evenings filled with top-billed events like the JUMEX Collection private dinner and the Kurimanzutto Gallery/Casa Dragones party in honor of artist Gabriel Orzoco–the week’s hottest ticket.
We will have more coverage of Zona Maco in the coming days, so be sure to follow us on Twitter @Whitewallmag and our writer on the ground, Victoria Alexander, on Instagrma @lifewithv.
