James Oles, Special Presentation

Special Presentation

Lecture: Mexican Contemporary Art and the Art Historical Canon
Thursday, September 12, 6 to 7 pm, with book signing to follow

In conjunction with the recent publication of Art and Architecture in Mexico, author James Oles provides insight into the process behind writing the first comprehensive survey of Mexican art in almost half a century. Oles explores how art history surveys were previously crafted by scholars and museum curators, and he discusses the benefits and pitfalls of taking a long rather than tightly focused view of Mexican art history. Rather than emphasize continuity over time, the book emphasizes cross-generational connections, and much of the talk focuses on the historical context—direct and indirect—that informs the work of Mexico’s vibrant contemporary artists, several of whom—such as Francis Alÿs, Melanie Smith, and Teresa Margolles—are included in the Modern’s current exhibition, México Inside Out: Themes in Art Since 1990.