WRONG DRESS IN PLUMES OF SMOKE

Exhibition: September 7 – November 21, 2019
A solo exhibition by Mauricio Limón

Painted wooden masks by Mauricio Limón installed across two gallery rooms at wildpalms

Mauricio Limon’s Performing White Skin has been shown in Brussels and Amsterdam and is now fully being exhibited in Düsseldorf.

Using the cultural framework of contemporary popular western culture, one can succumb to the temptation to rapidly associate the use of masks with a bit of luck or protective charm, when considering this object subjectively. This view would also consist of intent of unearthing or a strategy of concealment to hide one’s identity to protect one’s self from critique, or to remain anonymous, an approach that uses the dynamic qualities of costume within the context of popular parties and the carnivalesque, using costume as a vehicle for liberation within the rigid confines of how one should act morally, sexually, politically, etc. In this context, the mask emerges as a façade that evades censorship, a superficial lucky charm that enables individuals to counter the harmful consequences against their individual bodies, and their individual discourses, opinions, political postures, behaviors, etc. Let’s take the example of the mask of superheroes in cartoons or the now-famous mask of Anonymous. Through this scope, the mask is associated with individuality, personality, and the protection of subjectivity. Nevertheless, there are other uses and effects associated with the mask that transcend the approaches of concealment or protection of individuals, an approach that doesn’t confront or oppose those previously mentioned but exists on a different plane, one described by Maite Garbayo Maeztu as one that “makes appear what disappears”.

The exhibition with Limon consists e.a. of insitu pieces, a video work, and 27 wooden masks, inspired by the Mexican tradition of masks that can be seen on the street and at religious festivals, as well as museums. The mask sculptures, central to the exhibition, are mise-en-scene in video satire. An actor soliloquizes on set, resembling a talk or interview situation. Intermezzos of film stills function as commentary, similar to the choir of Greek tragedy: a reflection of astonishment and outrage.
Wrong Dress in Plumes of Smoke is an in-depth research on power structures and subjectivities. Everything turns into an exceptionally large installation, applied to contemporary social and cultural discourses using the genre of satire.

Mauricio Limon. Born in Mexico. 1979. Living and working Between Mexico and Paris, Limon belongs to one of the most important contemporary artists in Mexico.
Limon not only has a vigorous exhibition history of solo and group shows but has also been nominated for the Pinchuk Prize in 2014 and received the Rijksakademie Stipend in Amsterdam in 2016.

Mauricio Limón

Ciudad de México, 1979. Lives and works in Mexico City.

Education

Visual Arts, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México DF

Scholarships and Residencies

2020 — Fiminco, París, FR
2018 — Residencia Casa Wabi, Oaxaca, MX
2015–2016 — Rijksakademie Residency, Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten, Países Bajos
2014 — Future Generation Art Prize Nominee, Victor Pinchuk Foundation
2011 — Jóvenes creadores – FONCA Annual Grant
2010 — Pollock-Krasner Foundation Annual Grant
2009 — Pocket Utopia international

Solo Shows

2023 — Memoria Ciega, Museo Cabañas, Guadalajara, México
2023 — El primero que ria, wildpalms, Düsseldorf
2022 — Fallen Like Snake Skin, Pequod Co., Ciudad de México, México
2022 — Les petits pois sont vertes…les petits poissons rouges, Ellen De Bruijne, Amsterdam
2021 — El primero que ría, Instituto Cultural de México, Madrid, España
2020 — Empowering innuendos, Performance Galerie – Cité internationale des arts, Paris, FR
2020 — Le Premier Qui Rira, Instituto Cultural de Mexico, Paris, FR
2020 — A gigantic broom to uncover compelling narratives, The Performance Show, ArtRotterdam, NL
2019 — Dientes Rotos (Broken Teeth), Museo Universitario del Chopo, Mexico City, MX
2019 — Wrong Dress In Plumes Of Smoke, wildpalms, Düsseldorf
2019 — Performing White Skin, wildpalms, Poppositions, Bussels, BE
2018 — A set of non verbal fantasies, Ellen de Bruijne Projects, Amsterdam, NL
2017 — The soup is delicious, A rose is rose is a rose, Rozanstraat 59, Amsterdam, NL
2017 — Pagará a la vista al portador, Hilario Galguera Gallery, Mexico DF
2014 — Promesa Prohibida, Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil, Mexico DF
2014 — Buscando la sombra del árbol, Hilario Galguera Gallery, Mexico DF
2012 — Batiente.01, Casa del Lago Juan José Arreola (UNAM), México DF
2012 — ¡Con todo el respeto que usted se merece!, Oaxaca Painters’ Museum (MUPO), Mexico
2012 — Hilario Galguera Gallery, ART COLOGNE – New positions
2011 — Versus–buscando la sombra del arbol, Projex-Mtl, Montreal, Canada
2011 — Divinatory meanings, Vice Gallery, Mexico DF
2010 — Squeegees, Projex-Mtl, Montreal, Canada
2008 — Psicotropico, Hilario Galguera Gallery, Mexico DF
2006 — And a Big Fellow Too, Trolebús Galeria, Mexico DF
2005 — Recipies for disaster, Arena México Arte Contemporáneo, Guadalajara, DF
2005 — Arte Contemporáneo, Guadalajara, Mexico
2004 — Crepusculitos, Torre Latinoamericana, Mexico DF

Group Exhibitions (Selection)

2026 — Football A Shared Emotion. Museo Fundación Jumex. CDMX
2024 — Performance Festival Rooms. Marres, Rotterdam
2021 — Ablar ha defesios, hablar adefesios, defesios ablar ha, Pequodco, Mexico
2021 — City.Trojantaco, Espacio Temporal, Paris, FR
2021 — Hotel Simplon, Giulietta.Basel, Basel, CH
2021 — Pleins Feux, Fondation Fiminco, Paris, FR
2020 — Organismos articulados / Organismen in Verbindung, Instituto Cultural de Mexico, Berlin, DE
2018 — FIAC ART FAIR, Paris
2018 — #núcleo, Galería Hilario Galguera, MX
2017 — Rijks OPEN, Rijksakademie, Amsterdam, NL
2016 — Promise prohibited, Paradocs IDFA, Screening at Eye Museum, Amsterdam
2016 — Rijks OPEN, Rijksakademie, Amsterdam, NL
2016 — Arte Para la Nación, Museo de la Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público, MX
2016 — Once (11), Espacio Monitor, Caracas, VE
2016 — Books, wildpalms, Düsseldorf, DE
2015 — Los justos desconocidos (de todas maneras cago), El cuarto de máquinas, Mexico City, MX
2015 — Jardín botánico UNAM, Mexico DF
2015 — Foto Museo Cuatro Caminos, Mexico DF
2014 — 21 Artist Shortlisted for the Future Generation Art Prize, Pinchuk Art Center, Kiev, Ukraine
2014 — INDEX 4: Proposals for the era of simulation, Hilario Galguera Gallery, Mexico DF
2014 — Rufino Tamayo XVI Painting Biennial, Mexico DF
2014 — Casa del Lago, Mexico DF
2014 — inSite/Casa Gallina, edition project, Mexico DF
2013 — MARCO, Monterrey, Mexico
2013 — Galeria Metropolitana UAM, Mexico DF
2013 — Kunstmuseum Bonn, Germany
2013 — Museo Universitario del Chopo, Mexico DF
2012 — Bristol Biennial, Bristol, England
2012 — Espacio M, Mexico DF
2011 — Mycellium Ingenium, Mexico DF
2011 — Museo de la Ciudad de México, Mexico DF
2011 — MFA – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
2011 — La MaMA La Galleria, New York, USA
2011 — Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams, Massachusetts, USA
2010 — San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, USA
2010 — Projex-MTL Gallery, Montreal, Canada
2010 — CA2, Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo, Madrid, Spain
2010 — Museo de la Ciudad de México, Mexico DF
2009 — Simposium Internacional de Teoría de Arte Contemporáneo, Sur, sur, sur sur…(SITAC VII), Mexico DF
2009 — VIBA, ThisIsNotAGallery, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2009 — Centro Cultural de Cali, Cali, Colombia
2009 — Livraria/Café Gato Vadio Projecto Videolab, Porto, Portugal
2009 — Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico DF
2009 — Projex-MTL Galerie, El libro de las letras, Montreal, Canada
2009 — MUCA Roma, Mexico DF
2009 — New Art Lab, Hong Kong, China
2009 — Hilario Galguera Gallery, Leipzig, Germany
2008 — Hilario Galguera Gallery, Mexico DF
2008 — Mexican Cultural Institute, Washington D.C., USA
2008 — Electrochoc Festival, Rhóne, Alpes, France
2008 — Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
2008 — Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico DF
2008 — Fortino di Sant Antonio, Bari, Italy
2008 — Hilario Galguera Gallery, Mexico DF
2007 — Casa Luis Barragán, Mexico DF
2007 — 35 Festival Internacional Cervantino, Guanajuato, Mexico
2007 — Bizco Merolico Chorus, P74 Center and Gallery, Ljubljana (Slovenia)
2007 — Musee d’art Contemporain du Val de Marne, Paris
2007 — IVAM, Valencia, Spain
2007 — EX-Teresa Arte Actual, Mexico DF
2006 — Mexico D.U.M.B.O., Arts Center, Brooklyn, USA
2006 — Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil, Mexico DF
2006 — Espace Piano Noville, Geneve, Switzerland
2005 — Isola Art Center, Milan, Italy
2005 — Künsterhaus Bethanien, Berlin, Germany
2005 — Curator’s Office Micro Gallery, Washinton D.C., USA
2005 — Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain
2005 — Art&Idea, Mexico DF
2004 — Ex-Teresa arte actual, Mexico DF
2004 — Sala de Arte Público Siqueiros, Mexico DF
2004 — Contemporary Art Blue Star Center, San Antonio, USA
2004 — Revillagigedo 37, Mexico DF
2004 — Museum of Natural History, Mexico DF
2003 — Ex-Teresa arte actual, Mexico DF
2003 — Museo de Historia Natural, Mexico DF
2003 — Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil, Mexico DF
2002 — Centro de la imagen, Mexico City, Mexico

Acknowledgements

2005 — Bienal de pintura Alfredo Zalce, Honorable mention
2002 — Bienal de Yucatán, Honorable mention
2002 — X Bienal de Fotografía, Honorable mention
2001 — Bienal de pintura de Tamaulipas, Honorable mention
2001 — Bienal Alfredo Zalce, Honorable mention

Projects as Curator

2006–2007 — Museo Experimental El Eco, Monthly video shows
2006 — Pictorial projects according with a construction work context, Mexico DF
2005 — Coordination and work selection for Declaraciones, curated by Guillermo Santamarina, Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid, ARCO 2005
2004 — Curatorial collaboration with Joaquín Segura, Casa Frissac, Mexico DF
2003 — MHN, 01/02/03, Site projects-Museum Of Natural History, Mexico DF