Feminine Design: Contemporary Mexico
Organised by
casademexico.es
Dates
September 25, 2023 - February 18, 2024
Opening Hours
12:00 am - 7:00 pm
Address
C. de Alberto Aguilera, 20,,
Madrid 28015
Spain
“Feminine Design: Contemporary Mexico” is a tribute and a critical look at the work of women who have made design their profession and way of life. Curated by Ana Elena Mallet and Pilar Obeso, the exhibition challenges and redefines the traditionally male-dominated narrative of design history.
Historically, design has been shaped from a male perspective, with male designers prominently featured in books, historical records, magazines, and patent registrations. Women designers, if mentioned at all, were often overshadowed by male ‘geniuses’ or merely recognized as their romantic partners.
This exhibition showcases Mexican women designers who have bent social structures and norms to foster inclusive design practices. It aims to provide alternative narratives and perspectives to the established design history.
Significantly, the show includes works by indigenous women, commonly referred to as artisans, whose work aligns with design yet has been culturally and socially sidelined.
The exhibition features seven themes: Collaboration, Rethinking Tradition, New Media and Materials, From Local to International, Binomials, A Gender Perspective, and The Scope of Visual Communication. These themes explore various design trends and approaches that have influenced the female-centric design ethos in the early 21st century. From reimagining handmade processes to producing biomaterials and challenging traditional norms and the patriarchal system, these narratives showcase the intellectual breadth of women in design, urging us to rethink the concept of ‘feminine design’ and expand narratives around women in design.
For guided tour information, visit https://www.casademexico.es/visitas-guiadas/.
Ximena Caraza Campos, General Director of the Casa de México Foundation in Spain, remarks, “It’s an honor to present this group of women on our fifth anniversary, who enrich Mexico’s design history and have forged their way in a profession where they haven’t always been visible or recognized for their significant contributions.”
“Design in Feminine: Contemporary Mexico” spans 23 years of history, featuring the work of 70 designers and 145 pieces from 13 Mexican states. Participants include Adriana Díaz de Cossío, Ana Ramírez González, and many others, representing a rich diversity of styles and approaches in contemporary Mexican design.
