Madrid-based artist Santiago Sierra brings a stark visualization of urban toxicity to the Saligman Family Atrium with his compelling installation, 52 Canvases Exposed to Mexico City’s Air. Known for his socially conscious and often provocative art, Sierra’s latest work directly confronts the invisible yet pervasive issue of air pollution, particularly relevant in a metropolis like Mexico City. This exhibition offers a powerful commentary on contemporary urban living and environmental awareness in “Air Mexico”.
Sierra’s unique process involved placing 52 adhesive-lacquered canvases in an open-windowed building in Mexico City, one for each week of the year. These canvases acted as passive collectors, accumulating airborne particles over seven days. Each week, a canvas was removed and professionally treated to fix the settled sediment, preserving a tangible record of the city’s air quality. The resulting series of canvases visually documents the disturbing accumulation of pollutants, creating a poignant time-lapse of noxious air.
Visualizing 'Air Mexico': Santiago Sierra's Art Exposes Mexico City Air Pollution
52 Canvases Exposed to Mexico City’s Air transcends the local context of “Air Mexico,” resonating with global implications. It serves as a stark reminder of escalating airborne contaminants in densely populated urban areas worldwide. While Sierra’s previous works often critiqued capitalist labor practices within the art world through human interaction, this piece shifts focus. Here, art becomes direct, irrefutable evidence of environmental degradation, moving beyond human exploitation to environmental accountability.
Ultimately, Sierra’s canvases direct our attention to the power structures underpinning these detrimental conditions. The artwork compels viewers to reconsider not only the air they breathe but also the policies that contribute to the contamination of our environment and bodies. Curated by Meredith Malone, this exhibition encourages a renewed awareness of environmental responsibility and the systemic issues related to “Air Mexico” and global air quality.
