Elsa-Louise Manceaux and Jordi Boldó at Yautepec

Artists: Elsa-Louise Manceaux and Jordi Boldó

Exhibition title: up down strange charm beauty truth

Curated by: Francisco Cordero-Oceguera and Brett W Schultz

Venue: Yautepec, Mexico City

Date: April 14 – June 11, 2016

Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Yautepec, Mexico City

UP—DOWN

If you become upset, walk away immediately. Do not express anger. When you get angry, you lose. After you have calmed down, apologize for leaving and continue with what you were doing.

Take care to listen to someone’s idea entirely before you pass judgment on it. Ask questions if necessary. Do whatever it takes to make sure that you understand the idea. Try not to begin judging anything about the idea until you have understood it entirely.

When you are alone try to become fully aware of how it feels to you, try to recognize the emptiness as a place of potential, try to imagine what you might be able to do for others in this empty time, try to realize that you are not truly alone but with this special person who is yourself. What would you do for this person if you could make their private world a better place?

STRANGE—CHARM

Before you begin talking to another person, pause for a moment and look at that person. Take in that person’s attitude and feelings at that moment. Be aware of the person with whom you’re speaking.

Behind everything of value that you see lies much potential. Try not to be satisfied with just a good result, but let yourself imagine the ways in which a person might fulfill all their creative aspects; the ways in which a situation might become useful to many more than just what it was made for. Try to imagine everything as a source of untapped magic and creative power – let your mind see all the things it might become. Above all, apply this exercise to yourself, as if you were seeing yourself in a mirror: just as you would another person whom you love.

BEAUTY—TRUTH

Try to be on good terms with all people, even those that you consider beneath you. Try to understand that everybody has something to offer.

Everything wonderful in life proceeds from the qualities which lie behind it. You can feel these things, these drives and attitudes which seem to come from a place outside, perhaps from the creator expressing himself within people and nature. Letting the sense of these background qualities permeate your drive to life will give you purpose and meaning. Allow yourself to feel the meanings and purposes of the world, let them become a valuable gift which can be expressed in your dealings with others and in the things you strive for.