Reflections of Tomorrow

The climate crisis is becoming more and more evident throughout the globe now. Some countries experience extreme weather conditions, others poor air quality or water shortage. That’s a real problem for everyone living on the planet. Mexico city, for example, faces a water shortage that could soon become dire. Officials from Mexico City's water utility SACMEX have said the Cutzamala System, a network of pumping plants, dams and other infrastructure that is the source of water for about 6 million people, is the most stressed it has ever been. They have asked residents to change habits in order to conserve as much water as possible. With recent seasons drier than usual, the city's reservoirs are now depleted with no chance at rebounding until the rainy season during the summer months.
Exposed to that vital issue Mexican artists are covering it in their work and striving to prevent a catastrophe. They discuss not only the water crisis by itself, but encourage the audience to feel responsible and powerful to lend a helping hand to the environment. The works in the exhibition will not be limited exclusively to the ones related to water as all the elements in nature are intertwined and dependant on each other.

Here are the proposed art works by local artists for our exhibition:
Drawing inspiration from a tradition in the Sierra Huasteca, Mexico, the first work explores the act of naming as a powerful tool for preservation. Once a year, a community there spends the night naming everything that exists, ensuring its continued existence with the dawn. The video reflects this practice, combining the imagery and sound of a flowing stream abruptly cut off with snippets of various Indigenous languages speaking the words for water. These words, carefully embroidered and displayed in hoops, become part of the artwork. In doing so, the artist, highlights the critical threat faced by both these languages and water sources, and positions the act of naming as an act of resistance and safeguarding. Another video work is presenting a performance where a person inside the silver bag is resisting and at the same time accepting the force of the wind. It represents the flow of energy sustained in natural forces being tamed and absorbed by humans. The last piece is a video showing the artist covering a blanket over a big rock amidst the snowy mountain landscape. An act of tenderness and care towards another, that is performed by our mothers and grandmothers. A candid attempt to care, accompany and protect.

These captivating artworks showcase the power of human ingenuity and compassion in the face of environmental challenges. By raising awareness and fostering a sense of responsibility, art serves as a powerful tool for mobilising individuals and communities to enact positive change. Through collective efforts, informed by both traditional wisdom and contemporary artistic expression, we can navigate towards a future where humanity and nature exist in harmony, ensuring a sustainable and vibrant existence for generations to come.

Artists proposed for the exhibition: Ximena Garcia Alvarez, Paulina Vàzquez, Tania Candiani