Arqueológica
Archaeological
January 26–May 9, 2013
Matadero Madrid / Nave 16
Legazpi, 8
Madrid 28045 Spain
www.mataderomadrid.org
Matadero Madrid presents Arqueológica, curated by Virginia Torrente (b. 1963, Bilbao), an exhibition that revolves around the relationship between archaeological working methods and contemporary art. The show is made up of pieces commissioned specifically for Arqueológica from eight international artists: Christian Andersson (b. 1973, Stockholm), Pedro Barateiro (b. 1979; Almada, Portugal), Mariana Castillo Deball (b. 1975; Mexico City), Mark Dion ( b. 1961; New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA), Daniel Guzmán (b. 1964; Mexico City), Diango Hernández (b. 1970; Sancti Spiritus, Cuba), Regina de Miguel (b. 1977; Málaga, Spain) and Francesc Ruiz (b. 1971; Barcelona, Spain). The eight artists in Arqueológica delve into the past, present and future, taking a careful look at the history of all three.
Archaeology and contemporary art are connected by many concepts, especially by the perception and analysis of the romantic sense of the artwork, its status as an archive and a document, and the relationship both these fields have with reality and fiction, memory and oblivion.
Within these parameters these eight site-specific works created with and related to contemporary archaeology and anthropology are put on display at Nave 16 in the space provided by Matadero Madrid, a place with powerful architecture, marked by its former industrial use as a slaughterhouse and cattle market.
Gordon Matta Clark, with all his work, and in his wake, Robert Smithson, with his fascinating research on the Hotel Palenque (1969–72) can be seen as references for this exhibition project, and are joined in their inspiring this project by Jules Verne and the anthropological writings of Claude Lévy-Strauss, with his disappointment in the anthropological research of the most primitive societies, embodied by Tristes Tropiques (1955).
Additionally, as a publication parallel to the exhibition, a free newspaper will be distributed, which contains theoretical essays by Dieter Roelstraete, Jacinto Antón, and by the curator herself. These essays accompany the images and information that summarize and explain the pieces created by the artists.