Maqueta, Construcción Aurrera 1984

Editor: This is Mathias Goeritz's "Maqueta, Construcción Aurrera," a metal sculpture from 1984. I’m immediately struck by its groundedness, the weight of the metal, and how the geometric shapes seem to both defy and embrace gravity. What social narratives do you think this piece might be engaging with? Curator: That's a keen observation! Goeritz, deeply influenced by the socio-political landscape of post-war Mexico, particularly its rapid industrialization, offers a potent commentary. The sculpture's abstract, geometric forms can be interpreted as a response to the dehumanizing aspects of modernization. Do you notice any tension between the materials and shapes? Editor: I see how the rigid geometry and industrial metal contrast with a sort of implied dynamism in the arrangement – like the shapes are frozen mid-explosion or construction. Curator: Exactly! Goeritz’s choice of metal as a medium – inherently associated with industry and progress – becomes particularly significant. He subtly critiques the dominant narratives of progress and growth by presenting a construction that feels unstable and fragmented. In the mid-20th century, there was an architectural boom across Mexico as well, so how might this tie to our understanding? Editor: It almost seems like a model of a building that’s simultaneously being built and deconstructed. Is he suggesting these large construction projects across Mexico can be both beneficial and dangerous? Curator: Precisely. He encourages us to question the narratives we inherit. And who benefits from them? Art, like this piece, allows us to reconsider assumptions about national identity, economic development, and the role of art within broader social movements. Editor: I didn't initially see the work as being so explicitly tied to social issues. It's fascinating to understand how even abstract forms can be deeply embedded in political and social contexts. Curator: Agreed. The interplay between the formal elements and the socio-political backdrop gives the sculpture a powerful and lasting resonance.