Exhibition | We were happy and didn't know it

Description

Exhibition | We Were Happy and Didn't Know It
From March 5 to June 8, 2025
Fundación Casa de México in Spain, within the framework of ARCO, presents for the first time in Spain the Jumex Collection, one of the most important contemporary art collections in Latin America.

We Were Happy and Didn't Know It is an evocative portrait of one of the most vibrant periods of contemporary art in Mexico. The exhibition showcases the work of twenty-eight artists, some Mexican by birth and others by choice. Sixty-five works of video, installation, photography, and sculpture are on display.

The curatorial discourse by Ixel Rion Lora aims to offer the visitor a reading of contemporary art in Mexico in the 1990s, spanning almost two decades of production, from the mid-1990s to the first ten years of the new millennium. It proposes a journey as a tribute to the youthful abandon that led to artistic creation in Mexico's urban fabric.

The exhibition is divided into five sections that address thematic axes of great importance to the development of contemporary art in Mexico during the 1990s: the city, space, social context, identity, and the material. Bringing together work spanning nearly twenty years of production offers the viewer a visual reflection of the transition experienced.

"This exhibition is part of a larger project in which we hope to showcase Mexico's most important private collections and share them with the Spanish public." Ximena Caraza Campos, General Director of the Casa de México Foundation in Spain
Artists participating in the exhibition

Abraham Cruzvillegas (Mexico, 1968), Francis Alÿs (Belgium, 1959), Carlos Amorales (Mexico, 1970), Daniel Guzmán (Mexico, 1964), Daniela Rossell (Mexico, 1973), Eduardo Abaroa (Mexico, 1968), Gabriel Kuri (Mexico, 1970), Gabriel Orozco (Mexico, 1962), Gonzalo Lebrija (Mexico, 1972), Iñaki Bonillas (Mexico, 1981), Jonathan Hernández (Mexico, 1972), Laureana Toledo (Mexico, 1970), Damian Ortega (Mexico, 1967), Fernando Ortega (Mexico, 1971), Luis Miguel Suro (Mexico, 1972), Jorge Mendez Blake (Mexico, 1974), Miguel Calderón (Mexico, 1971), Minerva Cuevas (Mexico, 1975), Pablo Vargas Lugo (Mexico, 1968), Sofía Táboas (Mexico, 1968), Stefan Brüggemann (Mexico, 1975), Silvia Gruner (Mexico, 1959), Melanie Smith (United Kingdom, 1965), Ruben Ortiz Torres (Mexico, 1964), Dr. Lakra (Mexico, 1972), Santiago Sierra (Spain, 1966), Thomas Glassford (USA, 1963), José Dávila (Mexico, 1974). JUMEX CONTEMPORARY ART FOUNDATION

The Jumex Contemporary Art Foundation was created to promote the production, discussion, and knowledge of contemporary art and to generate innovative ways of fostering art and culture. The foundation was formally established in 2001—with the invaluable support of Mr. Eugenio López Rodea and Mrs. Isabel Alonso de López—when it presented the first exhibition of the Jumex Collection, which currently features more than 3,300 works.

During its first decade, the Jumex Foundation established itself as a private, nonprofit institution that supported curators and artists who are currently part of the national and international contemporary art scene.

The Jumex Museum was inaugurated in 2013, the result of the efforts of the Jumex Contemporary Art Foundation, promoted by the collector and businessman Eugenio López Alonso. Located in Mexico City, the Jumex Museum is one of the most prominent contemporary art spaces in Latin America.

The Museo Jumex, with its iconic building, designed by British architect David Chipperfield, winner of the 2023 Pritzker Architecture Prize, has become a cultural landmark both for its minimalist design and its commitment to innovative exhibitions.

In addition to its temporary exhibitions, the Museo Jumex is dedicated to promoting art through educational programs, publications, and activities that seek to bring contemporary art closer to the public. Its curatorial approach has allowed for exhibitions of international and Mexican artists, consolidating its position as a space for dialogue between creators, critics, and viewers.

Over the years, the Museo Jumex has been a benchmark in Mexico City's art scene, offering a platform for experimentation and critical thinking. Its commitment to contemporary art has made it a key cultural hub in Mexico and a must-see destination for art lovers. With a dynamic and inclusive vision, it continues to expand its influence on the global art scene.

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