Miguel Calderón

March 17 – April 30, 2006

According to Miguel Calderón, to make art is to conduct a study of human nature and its interaction with the world. His work is characterized by a low-fi aesthetic, combined with a dose of dark humor, which he uses to question the twisted state of the power structures and make a comment on society, politics and the identity of individuals. His work ranges a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, video and photography, and it brings in pop culture references such as music videos, telenovelas, tabloids, and rock music. Despite their flippant, crude, or “devil-may-care” appearance, his pieces explore deep social and personal territory and are often made in collaboration with members of his family, friends and even complete strangers.

Calderón came of age as an artist in Mexico during the 1990s, when he was a key figure in the development of a young alternative art scene associated with the non-commercial art space he co-founded called La Panadería. After five years of working abroad, the artist returns to Mexico and presents his first solo exhibition at kurimanzuttto. The homonymous show includes his most recent work on video, sculpture, photography and painting, and will be on view from March 17 through April 30.

Calderón received his BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1994. He has been the recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship for Film and New Media (2000), and the Bancomer/Rockefeller Fellowship (1995).

His most important solo exhibitions include: Miguel Calderón, Andrea Rosen Gallery, New York, United Sates (2003); Joven Entusiasta, Museo Tamayo, Mexico City, Mexico (1999); Ridiculum Vitae, La Panadería, Mexico City, Mexico (1998); among others. Additionally, he has participated in group shows at the following institutions: Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, La Jolla,United States; Museo Nacional de Arte MUNAL, Mexico City, Mexico, PS1 Contemporary Art Center, New York, United States. He has also participated in various biennials, including Sharjah Biennial 7, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (2005), Yokohama Triennale of Contemporary Art, Yokohama, Japan (2005); ARCO, Madrid, Spain (1998).