The River at CC Foundation is Minerva Cuevas’s first solo show in China. The artist presents a monumental relief mural, where she continues her exploration of pre-Hispanic iconography, threading her artistic practice through the rich lineage of Mesoamerica—a cultural epicenter of the Americas long before Columbus’s arrival. Conceived for Cc Foundation in Shanghai, The River also draws its inspiration from the Chinese Bronze Age (c. 2000–221 B.C.E.), especially the discoveries at the Sanxingdui archaeological site (c. 1300–1000 B.C.E.) in Sichuan Province.

The mural, measuring twelve meters in length and three meters in height will be on view at the CcFoundation in Shanghai until January 26, 2025. The voluminous sculptural details and the modular structure of The River reflect influences from Isamu Noguchi’s renowned frieze History Mexico (1936) in the Abelardo L. Rodríguez Market near Cuevas’s studio, as well as the Maya sculptural tradition that engages architecture, often manifesting as built-in wall panels assembled from slabs. The ancient Maya are known for their monumental works—often carved in stone or modeled with stucco— that create multifigural compositions, projecting epic stories and stretching their communicative potential. Even a casual visit to the archaeological site at Chichén Itzá, for example, can evoke a sense of awe. The elaborate reliefs on colossal tableaus, which mark historical occasions, emphasize particular ideologies, and articulate the negotiated relationships between humans and the powerful supernatural forces embodied by deities or anthropomorphic characters, make it the envy of Mesoamerica. Cuevas’s work pays homage to this tradition, elevating it with contemporary technology.

+ about Minerva Cuevas 

+ about the exhibition