The Marvellous Real: Art from Mexico

Comments 30 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Museum of Anthropology at UBC recently opened a new exhibition, The Marvellous Real: Art from Mexico, 1926-2011. On until March next year, The Marvellous Real features 55 artworks that capture the idea of the “marvellous real”, a term coined by Cuban writer and ethno-musicologist, Alejo Carpentier (1904 – 1980). The term is used to describe a particular kind of magic realism that is manifest in the arts and everyday life of Latin America.

MOA-MarvellousReal
Carlos Amorales, Sin título (Untitled) (detail) 2004. Image courtesy of the Museum of Anthropology.

Eluding the expected through bizarre amalgamations, improbable juxtapositions, and fantastic correlations, the marvellous real is, as Carpentier said, “neither beautiful nor ugly; rather, it is amazing because it is strange.”

Drawn from the FEMSA Collection in Mexico, the exhibition includes works by Dr. Atl, Leonora Carrington, Jean Charlot, Juan O’Gorman, Alice Rahon, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Juan Soriano, and Rufino Tamayo, as well as a younger generation of visual artists like Carlos Amorales, Sandra Cabriada, Claudia Fernández, Adela Goldbard, Yishai Jusidman, Alejandro Santiago and Francisco Toledo. Curated by Dr. Nicola Levell (Assistant Professor, Anthropology, UBC).

The exhibition is made possible through the generous support of the FEMSA Collection, the Agencia Mexicana de Cooperación International Para el Desarrollo, the Consulado General de México en Vancouver, the Ollin Mexican Canadian Association for Arts, Culture and Education, and the Fundación Alejo Carpentier.

The MOA galleries and shop (at 6393 NW Marine Drive at UBC) are open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm and until 9:00pm on Tuesdays.

If you would like to visit the The Marvellous Real exhibit I have a pair of passes to give away (valid until March 30, 2014). Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win tickets to The Marvellous Real at @MOA_UBC from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/quzpO

Follow the Museum of Anthropology on Twitter and Facebook for more information about this exhibit and other happenings at the museum. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 5:00pm on Friday, November 8, 2013.

Update The winner is Angie N!

30 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. GeraldMonday, November 4th, 2013 — 7:28pm PST

    MOA is doing a great job of exhibiting art from various countries. I look forward to seeing these works from Mexico!

  2. JasMonday, November 4th, 2013 — 7:33pm PST

    The MOA has been on my visit list for ages! Would love to check out the amazing exhibit!

  3. LindaMonday, November 4th, 2013 — 8:13pm PST

    The MOA is a great place to visit. I would love to see this exhibit.

  4. KristaMonday, November 4th, 2013 — 11:09pm PST

    The MOA is one of my favourite places to visit on a rainy day. I’ve been looking forward to this exhibit. Thank you so much for the giveaway!

  5. EvelynTuesday, November 5th, 2013 — 3:54am PST

    What an arresting image! I bet the rest of the exhibit will be equally provoking 😀 Would love to go!

  6. Leah A.Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 — 6:30am PST

    I would like to see the younger generation of visual artists…

  7. Angie N.Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 — 10:44am PST

    Visiting the MOA has been on my list for a long, long time! Having tickets to this exhibit would be the perfect incentive to finally do so.

  8. Michelle W.Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 — 11:28am PST

    Sounds fun!

  9. Roanna ZTuesday, November 5th, 2013 — 11:42am PST

    I’m in. Looks interesting!

  10. janTuesday, November 5th, 2013 — 3:35pm PST

    would love to attend

  11. KayKayTuesday, November 5th, 2013 — 3:49pm PST

    love anything to do with UBC

  12. SanazTuesday, November 5th, 2013 — 4:20pm PST

    I’d love to visit!

  13. Michelle CTuesday, November 5th, 2013 — 5:46pm PST

    Would make a great Christmas gift!

  14. Kai Yan ChauTuesday, November 5th, 2013 — 8:27pm PST

    Would love to take my parents!

  15. leahTuesday, November 5th, 2013 — 9:20pm PST

    I’ve never been. This would be insteresting to see!

  16. NancyTuesday, November 5th, 2013 — 9:49pm PST

    I haven’t been for a long time and would love to go again.

  17. BryanWednesday, November 6th, 2013 — 12:55am PST

    Looks like a great event!

  18. DebbieWednesday, November 6th, 2013 — 7:06am PST

    Enjoyed their Peruvian Silver Exhibit. Would love to see this one too.

  19. MandyWednesday, November 6th, 2013 — 9:52am PST

    This would be very cool!

  20. DebWednesday, November 6th, 2013 — 1:50pm PST

    The MOA is wonderful, it’s been many years since I visited

  21. TracyWednesday, November 6th, 2013 — 5:17pm PST

    Would love to go! I haven’t been there for ages.

  22. Anne GuagliardoWednesday, November 6th, 2013 — 11:51pm PST

    I would love to bring my roomie there 🙂

  23. KatieThursday, November 7th, 2013 — 12:44pm PST

    Me please! Would love to go see this exhibition

  24. MatthewVThursday, November 7th, 2013 — 1:45pm PST

    Love the MOA, and that they are expanding their reach and showcases! Such a stunning place, in setting and collection.

  25. Teresa KThursday, November 7th, 2013 — 2:10pm PST

    I’d love to win.

  26. CaresseThursday, November 7th, 2013 — 10:21pm PST

    I checked out the MOA earlier this year and loved it! I would love to go back to check out this new exhibit.

  27. L. J , LawtonThursday, November 7th, 2013 — 10:56pm PST

    Hola. I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon.

  28. ErinFriday, November 8th, 2013 — 8:04am PST

    Looks like fun!

  29. Mary RoseFriday, November 8th, 2013 — 2:41pm PST

    this would be so awesome!!

  30. Heather HessMonday, November 18th, 2013 — 2:59pm PST

    What a great website – I love promoting Mexican art too – I very much love Siquieros and Frida and Diego and the list goes on ……

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