Artist: Abraham Cruzvillegas
Exhibition title: Song
Organized by: Lulu, Mexico City
Venue: LA MAISON DE RENDEZ-VOUS, Brussels, Belgium
Date: March 7 – April 18, 2020
Photography: Isabelle Arthuis / all images copyright and courtesy of the artist, Lulu and LA MAISON DE RENDEZ-VOUS, Brussels
Lulu is proud to present a solo exhibition of the Mexican, Paris-based artist Abraham Cruzvillegas.
Known for his interest in the provisional, ever-changing nature of culture primarily but not only in Mexico City, Cruzvillegas has developed a multifaceted practice that revolves largely around “Autoconstrucción.” This practice is inspired by the resourceful, self-directed and ad-hoc methods of building used by his compatriots in the southern part of Mexico City, Colonia Ajusco, where Cruzvillegas was raised. As a counterpart to these methods, the artist maintains a corresponding practice of “autodestrucción,” which analytically explores and reflects on just these methods as well as his work in general. Autodestrucción is liable to assume a variety of forms, ranging from sculpture to writing to even the production of music. Responding to Lulu’s carte blanche invitation to occupy LA MAISON DE RENDEZ-VOUS however he wishes, Cruzvillegas has elected to focus on the deconstructive aspect of his work in the form of a song. In order to do so, the artist invited his galleries– Chantal Crousel, Paris, Thomas Dane, London,
kurimanzutto, Mexico City, Rathole, Tokyo, and Regen Projects, Los Angeles,– to send a short, subjective description of his work to him, from which he elaborated the lyrics of a song. Accompanied by a band of collaborators, Cruzvillegas sung the song, once, at the opening of the exhibition. But do not worry, if you couldn’t be there, it was recorded! And you can listen to it. The space was also outfitted by a series of collages made from the lyrics of the song, not to mention the aftermath of the performance, which took place at 8 pm on Saturday, March 7th.
Abraham Cruzvillegas (b. 1968, Mexico City) is currently based in Paris, France, where he teaches at l’École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts. A selection of notable recent solo exhibitions includes: Esculturas pendientes (Pending Sculptures). kurimanzutto, Mexico City. Hi, How Are You, Gonzo? The Contemporary Austin; United States; Aspen Art Museum, United States; Autorreconstrucción: insistir, insistir, insistir. La Tallera, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; Ballad of Etc. Arts Club Chicago; Autorreconstrucción: Social Tissue, Kunsthaus Zürich, Switzerland (2018); Sensory Spaces 12: Abraham Cruzvillegas, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Netherlands (2017); The Water Trilogy 2: Autodefensión Microtonal Obrera Campesina Estudiantil Metabolista Descalza, Ginza Maison Hermès: Le Forum, Tokyo (2017). Some reasons group exhibitions include Artaud 1936, Museo Tamayo, Mexico City (2018); Dwelling Poetically: Mexico City, a case study, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne (2018); WE DREAM UNDER THE SAME SKY, Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2017).
