Geometrías y Sensaciones:

A homage to Margarita Azurdia

“What we should note and take into account, because it has its consequences even in the Genesis of Spirit, is the indisputable relationship that genetically associates the atom to the star”. -Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, “The Phenomenon of Man”

(Phrase selected by Margarita Azurdia -then known as Margot Fanjul- written by the great French philosopher, to be used as an exergue for her exhibition of geometric paintings at the DS Gallery in Guatemala in 1968.)

As a homage to one of the most important artists in guatemalan art history, NuMu presents scaled-down reproductions of two paintings by Margarita Azurdia from the series “Geometric Abstractions” (1967-68), which are currently missing.

Margarita Azurdia (Guatemala, 1931-1998), also known as Margot Fanjul, Margarita Rita Rica Dinamita y Anastasia Margarita, lived ahead of her time. She was a multifaceted artist with an innate interest in fluctuating between diverse artistic languages and distinct geographic points around the world.

Throughout her trajectory, Azurdia produced an extensive body of work that ranged between painting, sculpture, performance, ritual, dance, artist books, collage and poetry. Although she produced most of her work in Guatemala, she received an honorable mention at the II Biennale in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1969, participated in the II Coltejer Art Biennale in Medellín, Colombia, in 1970, and presented her work in various exhibitions in Guatemala, the United States and France.

The paintings from the series “Geometric Abstractions” are a clear reference to the way in which Azurdia approached life and art, with honesty and sensitivity, with an infinite curiosity and a profound connection to Guatemala. Her colorful and vibrant compositions are the result of an abstraction process based on guatemalan mayan huipiles, from weaving to painting. The result is highly sophisticated artwork for its time, which oscillates perfectly between the Mayan Cosmovision and international geometric abstraction.

The scaled-down replicas presented in “Geometries and Sensations” were created in New York by the japanese artist Akira Ikezoe. In doing so, Ikezoe researched Azurdia’s visual methodology, and relied on images found in the catalogue “Tres Mujeres, Tres Memorias: Margarita Azurdia, Emilia Prieto y Rosa Mena Valenzuela” (TEOR/éTica, 2009). The replicas have been reproduced with oil on canvas, and have similar dimensions to a small group of geometric abstractions of smaller scale that Azurdia created in the late sixties. After closing the exhibition, and as a symbolic gesture of friendship and gratitude, NuMu will donate replicas to Milagro de Amor, S.A.

As part of the exhibition’s public program, NuMu will also headstart a long-term oral history project, by engaging in a series of interviews with people who, in one way or another, know and spent time with Margarita Azurdia. This project seeks to extend and disseminate the information available on Margarita Azurdia, as well as the access to art and Guatemala’s cultural heritage in general.

Numu is profoundly thankful to the generosity and trust granted by Amaranta, Niki and Dulce, granddaughters of Margarita. This project is possible thanks to Friends of NuMu and the support of Milagro de Amor, S.A.