The Marvellous Real: Art from Mexico
byThe Museum of Anthropology at UBC recently opened a new exhibition, The Marvellous Real: Art from Mexico, 1926-2011. On until March next year, The Marvellous Real features 55 artworks that capture the idea of the “marvellous real”, a term coined by Cuban writer and ethno-musicologist, Alejo Carpentier (1904 – 1980). The term is used to describe a particular kind of magic realism that is manifest in the arts and everyday life of Latin America.
Carlos Amorales, Sin título (Untitled) (detail) 2004. Image courtesy of the Museum of Anthropology.
Eluding the expected through bizarre amalgamations, improbable juxtapositions, and fantastic correlations, the marvellous real is, as Carpentier said, “neither beautiful nor ugly; rather, it is amazing because it is strange.”
Drawn from the FEMSA Collection in Mexico, the exhibition includes works by Dr. Atl, Leonora Carrington, Jean Charlot, Juan O’Gorman, Alice Rahon, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Juan Soriano, and Rufino Tamayo, as well as a younger generation of visual artists like Carlos Amorales, Sandra Cabriada, Claudia Fernández, Adela Goldbard, Yishai Jusidman, Alejandro Santiago and Francisco Toledo. Curated by Dr. Nicola Levell (Assistant Professor, Anthropology, UBC).
The exhibition is made possible through the generous support of the FEMSA Collection, the Agencia Mexicana de Cooperación International Para el Desarrollo, the Consulado General de México en Vancouver, the Ollin Mexican Canadian Association for Arts, Culture and Education, and the Fundación Alejo Carpentier.
The MOA galleries and shop (at 6393 NW Marine Drive at UBC) are open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm and until 9:00pm on Tuesdays.
If you would like to visit the The Marvellous Real exhibit I have a pair of passes to give away (valid until March 30, 2014). Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow the Museum of Anthropology on Twitter and Facebook for more information about this exhibit and other happenings at the museum. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 5:00pm on Friday, November 8, 2013.
Update The winner is Angie N!
30 Comments — Comments Are Closed
MOA is doing a great job of exhibiting art from various countries. I look forward to seeing these works from Mexico!
The MOA has been on my visit list for ages! Would love to check out the amazing exhibit!
The MOA is a great place to visit. I would love to see this exhibit.
The MOA is one of my favourite places to visit on a rainy day. I’ve been looking forward to this exhibit. Thank you so much for the giveaway!
What an arresting image! I bet the rest of the exhibit will be equally provoking 😀 Would love to go!
I would like to see the younger generation of visual artists…
Visiting the MOA has been on my list for a long, long time! Having tickets to this exhibit would be the perfect incentive to finally do so.
Sounds fun!
I’m in. Looks interesting!
would love to attend
love anything to do with UBC
I’d love to visit!
Would make a great Christmas gift!
Would love to take my parents!
I’ve never been. This would be insteresting to see!
I haven’t been for a long time and would love to go again.
Looks like a great event!
Enjoyed their Peruvian Silver Exhibit. Would love to see this one too.
This would be very cool!
The MOA is wonderful, it’s been many years since I visited
Would love to go! I haven’t been there for ages.
I would love to bring my roomie there 🙂
Me please! Would love to go see this exhibition
Love the MOA, and that they are expanding their reach and showcases! Such a stunning place, in setting and collection.
I’d love to win.
I checked out the MOA earlier this year and loved it! I would love to go back to check out this new exhibit.
Hola. I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon.
Looks like fun!
this would be so awesome!!
What a great website – I love promoting Mexican art too – I very much love Siquieros and Frida and Diego and the list goes on ……