Ex Teresa Arte Actual Explores Performance Art and Counterculture in New Exhibition

The Ex Teresa Arte Actual, a venue dedicated to performance art within Mexico's National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL), is hosting a new exhibition titled "Un arete en el ombligo... La contracultura está en casa." The show delves into the multifaceted nature of performance art and its connection to local popular culture.

Luis Orozco, director of Ex Teresa Arte Actual, describes the exhibition as a "mosaic" that captures the current state of performance art and "chilanga" (Mexico City) popular culture. He explains that the exhibition embraces a form of "auto-exoticism," bringing elements of the street and popular markets into the museum space. "We are in the navel, the center, an uncomfortable jewel, that only shows to your community, that's what we are, we are an uncomfortable space, we are the earring in the navel," Orozco stated, explaining the exhibition's title.

The exhibition aims to provide a platform for artists who, despite having established careers, "had not had a showcase," according to Orozco. It features diverse works, including Pepx Romero's "Performance is the new muralism," a monumental altarpiece chronicling Ex Teresa's history and its iconic figures. Santísima Kitsch contributes "Altar dedicado a las Carmelitas Descalzas," a collage blending pop culture references with self-portraits, presented in the style of a neighborhood altar.

Further contributing to the exhibition's exploration of contemporary art forms are Farlopa's "posthumanist textile sculptures" and Frank López's "Una costurera." López's piece, a building constructed from fabric scraps, pays homage to textile workers who died in the 1985 earthquake, addressing the ongoing issue of worker invisibilization in the fashion industry, exacerbated by "fast fashion."

The exhibition is scheduled to run until August 30th. Orozco clarifies that Ex Teresa is distinct from contemporary art museums like Tamayo, positioning it as a unique space for performance and counterculture.

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no habíamos tenido un escaparate