TODOS JUNTOS (all together) at kurimanzutto in New York

The exhibition, like so many major decisions in the gallery’s history, arose from a series of dialogues with its artists. The origins of kurimanzutto may be traced back to such conversations; in the late 1990s, Gabriel Orozco co-founded the gallery with Mónica Manzutto and José Kuri. The choice to operate in Chelsea was made with the artists’ assistance, and many features of the new location’s layout and exhibition spaces are the direct consequence of input by Orozco and Rikrit Tiravinija. Tiles by Dr. Lakra, lamps by Janette Laverrière, which Nairy Baghramian has set in dialogue with her work in previous exhibitions, textiles found in Danh Vo’s work, and a reception area designed by Gabriel Sierra can be found throughout the area.

The first show features the work of 39 artists. Among them, Damián Ortega made significant contributions to the formation of TODOS JUNTOS (All Together). Ortega, along with Leonor Antunes, Adrián Villar Rojas, Tarek Atoui, Nairy Baghramian, and Haegue Yang, to name a few, envisioned a visual story of kurimanzutto and its community. The title is taken from Tiravanija’s 2014 piece of the same name, which was first presented at the gallery in Mexico City. Tiravanija displays a painted newspaper from July 12, 2022, when the most comprehensive photos of the universe were revealed by the James Webb telescope in a fresh iteration for the show. Tiravanija believes that the scale and scope of these images are ultimately deeply inclusive.

The exhibition is accompanied with a little takeaway magazine that describes the journey of kurimanzutto, from its first display in 1999 at the Medelln market, Economa de Mercado, to its permanent space in Mexico City, and finally the opening of the current facility on 20th Street. Sculptures by Orozco and Ortega are included in this display from the first market event. Orozco’s Mixiote, a soft sculpture constructed from market goods, and Ortega’s Transformers, a mix of plastic robot toys and organic elements like crab shells or ginger. Minerva Cuevas, who will have the gallery’s first solo exhibition early next year, displays a bumper car imprinted with the British Petroleum logo for her 2002 DODGEM exhibition at an amusement park. Sand Machine, a kinetic sculpture by David Medalla, is part of a series related with Signals, the innovative London gallery created in 1964 by Medalla, Gustav Metzger, and Marcello Salvadori. kurimanzutto has already held shows in both London and New York dedicated to the gallery’s legendary program.

The show also features new works by Antunes, Atoui, Petrit Halilaj, Sofía Táboas, a site-specific piece by Haegue Yang, Sonic Droplets; Havana Syndrome, a collaborative sound work by Wilfredo Prieto and Orozco, and a new Blind Self-Portrait by Abraham Cruzvillegas. Cruzvillegas created an arrangement of every printed invitation from the history of the gallery and covered them in black paint.

A screening room showcases films by Fernando Ortega, Anri Sala, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Akram Zaatari, and video works by Daniel Guzmán and Alexandra Bachzetsis will be installed in the exhibit. Additionally, Roman Ondak’s performance A Stray Man will take place on Saturdays. 

abraham cruzvillegas / adrián villar rojas / akram zaatari / alexandra bachzetsis / allora & calzadilla / anri sala / apichatpong weerasethakul / bárbara sánchez-kane / carlos amorales / damián ortega / danh vo / daniel guzmán / david medalla / dr. lakra / eduardo abaroa / fernando ortega / gabriel kuri / gabriel orozco / gabriel sierra / haegue yang / iñaki bonillas / jimmie durham / leonor antunes / marieta chirulescu / mariana castillo deball / miguel calderón / minerva cuevas / monika sosnowska / nairy baghramian / oscar murillo / patti smith / petrit halilaj / rirkrit tiravanija / roberto gil de montes / roman ondak / sarah lucas / sofía táboas / tarek atoui / wilfredo prieto.