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Damián Ortega (born July 1967) ^[1] is a Mexican visual artist, known for his contemporary sculpture, installation art, and mixed-media art. He lives in Mexico City and Berlin. ^{[2] [3]}

Early life and education

Damián Ortega was born in July 1967 in Mexico City, Mexico. ^[4] His father is actor and filmmaker Héctor Ortega Gómez, and his mother is María Asunción Stoupignan.

Ortega dropped out of school at 16 years old to pursue a career as a political cartoonist. He then found his first mentor, Gabriel Orozco and they created a self-styled art school, coined "Taller de los Viernes" or Friday workshop. ^[1]

Career

During his early years as an artist, Ortega experimented with various mediums and techniques, including painting, sculpture, installation, and performance. He gained recognition for his innovative approach to art-making, pushing the boundaries of traditional artistic practices and exploring the potential of everyday objects and materials as artistic media. ^[5] Ortega's early life and experiences in Mexico City, as well as his informal education in art and his experimentation with different artistic mediums, laid the foundation for his later success as a renowned contemporary artist known for his critical engagement with Mexican culture, history, and socio-political issues in his artworks. ^[6]

Ortega is known for his conceptual approach to art, often exploring themes of politics, capitalism, labor, and the environment using objects from everyday life. Ortega's works often involve the deconstruction and rearrangement of ordinary objects, such as tools, vehicles, and household items, to create new forms and meanings. He often employs everyday objects in his sculptures and installations, arranging them in unconventional ways to challenge conventional perceptions and explore deeper social and cultural issues. ^[7]

One of Ortega's most well-known works is "Cosmic Thing" (2002), ^[8] a large-scale installation composed of a disassembled Volkswagen Beetle suspended from the ceiling, with each part hanging individually in space.

Exhibitions

Damián Ortega's artworks are part of the collections of several prestigious museums and institutions around the world. Some of the notable museums that have exhibited his works include:

• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, USA: MoMA has featured Ortega's works in several exhibitions, including "Innovations in Latinx Art" (2020), "Contemporary Mexican Art: 1990 to Present" (2015), and "Media Burn: Damián Ortega" (2008). The museum also acquired Ortega's artwork "Cosmic Thing" (2003), which is now part of its permanent collection. ^[9]
• Tate Modern, London, UK: Tate Modern has showcased Ortega's works in various exhibitions, including "Hyundai Commission: Damián Ortega: 2019" (2019) and The World Goes Pop' (2015). ^[10] His works are also part of Tate's permanent collection.
• Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York: Ortega's work has been featured in the Guggenheim Museum's exhibitions such as Mexico: A Revolution in Art, 1910-1940 (2013–2014) and "Damián Ortega: The Beetle Trilogy and Other Works" (2012). ^[11] The Guggenheim Bilbao location owns the sculpture, False Movement (Stability and Economic Growth) 1999-2003. ^[12] The Guggenheim Museum has also acquired his works for its permanent collection.
• Jumex Museum, Mexico City, Mexico: Being one of the leading contemporary art museums in Latin America, Jumex Museum has showcased Ortega's works in several exhibitions, including "Damián Ortega: Play Time" (2015) and "Damián Ortega: The Independent" (2011). ^[13]
• Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles, USA: MOCA has exhibited Ortega's works in the exhibition "Damián Ortega: Do It Yourself" (2016), ^[14] which focused on his sculptures and installations.
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) holds the sculpture "Bio diversidad" (2016). ^[15]

Collections

• Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), New York City, New York ^[9]
• Guggenheim Bilbao, Bilbao, Spain ^[12]
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), San Francisco, California ^[15]

International recognition and importance to Mexican culture

Damián Ortega has made significant contributions to contemporary art and has an innovative approach to exploring and representing Mexican identity, history, and socio-political issues through his artworks.

• Representing Mexican identity: Ortega's artworks often incorporate everyday objects, materials, and cultural references that are deeply rooted in Mexican culture. He uses these elements to explore and challenge traditional notions of Mexican identity, drawing on his experiences growing up in Mexico City and engaging with the local culture. His works often reflect the complexities, contradictions, and diversity of Mexican society, highlighting its rich history, traditions, and contemporary challenges. ^[16]
• Engaging with Mexican history and politics: Ortega's works often reflect his critical engagement with Mexican history and politics. He addresses socio-political issues such as labor, consumer culture, globalization, and environmental concerns, which are relevant to Mexico and its people. His artworks often provoke discussions about Mexico's social, economic, and political landscape, shedding light on the complexities and challenges faced by the country and its people. ^[17]
• Pushing artistic boundaries: Ortega is known for his innovative and experimental approach to art-making, pushing the boundaries of traditional artistic practices. He often deconstructs and rearranges ordinary objects in unconventional ways, challenging traditional notions of sculpture and installation art. His approach to art-making is considered groundbreaking and has influenced younger generations of artists in Mexico and beyond, contributing to the evolution of contemporary art practices. ^[18]
• Gaining international recognition: Ortega's works have been exhibited in prestigious museums and galleries around the world, bringing global attention to Mexican contemporary art. His international success has helped to elevate the visibility and recognition of Mexican artists on the global stage, contributing to the rich artistic heritage of Mexico and its cultural diplomacy efforts. ^[19]
• Inspiring younger generations: Ortega's innovative approach to art-making and his critical engagement with Mexican culture and society have inspired younger generations of artists in Mexico and beyond. His work serves as an example of how contemporary artists can engage with socio-political issues, challenge traditional artistic practices, and push the boundaries of artistic expression. He has become a role model for aspiring artists and has contributed to the growth and development of the contemporary art scene in Mexico.

Ortega's importance to Mexican culture lies in his significant contributions to contemporary art, his engagement with Mexican identity, history, and politics, his groundbreaking artistic approach, his international recognition, and his inspiration to younger generations of artists. His works have had a meaningful impact on Mexican culture and the global art world, making him a prominent figure in contemporary Mexican art. ^[20]

While Ortega's artworks do not specifically depict or narrate Mexican history in a traditional sense, they often engage with socio-political and cultural issues that are relevant to Mexican history. His art known for its conceptual depth and critical exploration of various aspects of Mexican society, including its history.

• Labor and economic history: Ortega often references labor and economic history in Mexico through his artworks. For example, in his artwork Cosmic Thing (2003), ^[8] he disassembled a Volkswagen Beetle and rearranged its parts to create a suspended sculpture that resembles a disassembled cosmic object. This artwork references the history of the Volkswagen Beetle as a symbol of industrial production and economic development in Mexico, as well as the challenges faced by Mexican workers in the automobile industry.
• Cultural traditions and iconography: Ortega's artworks often incorporate cultural traditions and iconography that are associated with Mexican history. In his sculpture Controller of the Universe (2007), ^[21] he recreated a pre-Columbian stone carving using ordinary objects such as tools, power cords, and electrical components. This artwork references Mexico's rich cultural heritage and its complex history of colonization, hybridity, and transformation.
• Social and political issues: Ortega's artworks often address social and political issues that have historical significance in Mexico. In his installation Nine Types of Terrain (2016), ^[22] he uses clay bricks to recreate a topographic map of Mexico, referencing the country's territorial history and land struggles. He has also addressed issues such as drug violence, migration, and environmental degradation in his artworks, which have historical and contemporary relevance in Mexico.
• Personal history and memories: Ortega's artworks often draw on his personal history and memories of growing up in Mexico City. In his installation Apestraction (2013), ^[23] he uses concrete blocks and rebar to recreate a part of his childhood home in Mexico City, referencing his personal connection to the city's urban landscape and architecture. This artwork reflects his personal history and memories, which are intertwined with the broader history and culture of Mexico.

While Damián Ortega's artworks may not directly depict specific events or moments from Mexican history, they often engage with socio-political, cultural, and personal issues that have historical significance in Mexico. His works explore various aspects of Mexican society.

Ortega lives in Mexico City and Berlin and continues his artistic commentary on socio political art. ^[24]

Honors and awards

• Hugo Boss Prize, 2007 (nominated)
• Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship, 2014 ^[25]
• Inaugural recipient of the Ezratti Family Prize for sculpture at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami. ^[26]
• 2023 Zurich Art Prize ^[3]

References