One thing I remember most fondly about Mexico is the colors – people don’t seem married to the neutral, subtle, goes-with-anything tones that we take for granted up here, and buildings are just as likely to be painted flamingo pink or electric turquoise. Those colors also lend themselves well to eye-catching photography. A good photograph to me is one that makes me want to ask a million questions, and Mexican photographer Livia Corona’s beautiful shots fill me with curiosity.
Livia Corona was born in Ensenada, Mexico but currently splits her time between Mexico and New York City. She recently published Enanitos Toreros, a ten-year documentary project on the experiences of people with dwarfism, and she is currently working on a documentary film about the same subject.
Emiliano Godoy
Emiliano Godoy is an industrial designer with a BA from Universidad Iberoamericana (Mexico City, 1997) and furniture design studies from the Danish Design School (2003). He completed the MFA program at Pratt Institute’s in New York City on 2004.
PRECISELY Tabletop Set
A charming spoof on Scandinavian design, the cup, saucer, plate and utensils in this ceramic and steel set all nest together with almost inhuman precision.
Godoy has done special work with sustainable materials, merging quality design with environmentally conscious tactics.
Working with Brooklyn designer Erika Hanson, Godoy repurposed the cellulose fiber material that the company normally used for electrical insulation into chairs, bowls, clocks and more – all completely biodegradable.
NIU Chairs and Tables
These charming three-legged chairs and tables are remarkably sturdy despite their tripod shape, and are designed to be easily disassembled for flat packing.
Betsabee Romero’s work repurposes some of the urban detritus that is emblematic of Mexico in a way that combines folk art and postmodernism – discarded car tires are engraved with lively folk art-influenced patterns, and discarded Volkswagen fenders are painted with Milagros of accident scenes.
One thing that I will always love about Mexico is the massive amount of hand lettering that is everywhere. The Date Farmers, a pair of Mexican-American artists from Indio, California, freely cross the border to salvage materials for their work, which echoes the bold pop iconography of modern Mexico.
Gary Garay is a first-generation U.S.-born Mexican whose work incorporates some of the things I love most about the country – vivid colors, unique lettering and a love for all art, high and low. I love his paleta cart that sells home-made popsicles in a variety of flavors and designs
Adiós, Mexico and I’ll see you tomorrow in India!
11 Comments
ahhh mexico! it must have been so hard to pick out just a few artists that represent this country!
the documentary link is broken – would love to see what was posted for this.
I found this entry a bit confusing and really narrow-minded. For instance, so if Gary Garay has parents who were/are Mexican, but he himself was born in the U.S. and lives in L.A., why do you assert his Mexican ethnicity/cultural influences, when clearly, while looking at his work, he’s heavily influenced not only be Mexican culture, but Chicano, Mexican-American, and American pop culture. How are these artists, and why are they, constricted to a Mexico category? I’m not saying that being U.S.-born trumps these artists’ Mexican identities, I mean I call myself Mexican just as often as I call myself Chicana or Native, but I was just wondering if you put any thoughts into this before constructing this entry.
hi jill. check out her site http://www.liviacorona.com.
Being from Mexico myself and having lived in the U.S. for over 10 years now, I’m pretty familiar with the visual landscape of both sides of the border. For me, this entry reflects the current state of Mexican artists and designers, one where borders are erased and a blending of cultures thrives effortlessly. I’d like to think that it’s not about where you are born, but where your heart keeps leading you to, and for a lot of mexicans I know this tends to be back home.
I love Betsabee Romero’s work. Right now there is an outdoor gallery of some of her work right behind the Torre Latinoamericana that I would suggest to anyone that they should stop by if you are visiting Mexico around this time (it’s easy, get off at the Bellas Artes metro stop and walk across the museum’s front courtyard towards the torre and then walk around to the back and it’s right there. They often have art exhibits out there so no matter when you’re visiting you should walk by and see what they have). I love her tire old tire work and the designs with which she engraves them but most of all I love her cars. She does anything from covering them with tile, painting flowers on them, making planters out of them, and (my favorite) taking about six or seven black bochos and making an arch out of them and then taking bikes that are riding over the bochos. Does this make sense? Everytime I look at that piece I feel like bikes can beat cars one day and that’s a nice feeling.
mariann, awesome comment. i totally wanted to post the milagros that she painted on car parts but the images were so tiny it was hard to see.
Rose
I’m surprised that this post strikes you as narrow-minded and confusing just because Sara included 2 Mexican-American artists.
It’s impossible to mention all of the incredible artists working in Mexico and I think Sara’s post serves as a great jumping off point.
It’s clear Sara has put a lot of time and thought into this post (and every other one this week) and I’m always disappointed in comments like this that flippantly disregard someone’s effort merely because you disagree with her including 2 Mexican-American artists.
You say “I’m not saying that being U.S.-born trumps these artists’ Mexican identities” but clearly that’s what’s bothering you. I personally find it narrow-minded to discount someone’s heritage and influences merely because they may exist along side other influences.
Grace
HEY IM A MEXICAN LONG TIME DESIGN SPONGE READER. ITS ABOUT TIME :) MEXICO RULES!
OH! AND I AM A DESIGNER
Love the photo of the guys climbing the coffee bean bags. And I love Mexico! cheers, -susan
Hi, i am mexican and it’s nice to see a lovely post about my country.
It’s curious how people see México, many bad opinions but many other great opinions, Mexico it’s colorful, magic, friendly, many great designers and artists and it’s nice that you noticed it. :)
kisses from mexico
I am glad to see a post about Mexican art just like the other posters. I’ve gone to a couple of galleries when I was in Queretaro back in ’06. I love all kinds of art and design no matter what side of the border. :) Thanks for posting such awesome design!
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