There is a common
saying in Mexico that goes: Árbol que nace Torcido, jamás
su rama endereza (Crooked born tree, its branches never grow
straight), which normally applies to people that have bad luck
in their lives; like some kind of curse, a destiny marked by
their constant failure. This image and idea of the crooked or
bent tree has helped me realise and name one of my pieces, Bluebird
Self-Portrait, which attempts to battle against the idea of
this kind of individual destiny.
Continuing with the kind of themes that have been with me in
my work (destiny, luck, the search for happiness, love and memory),
the piece includes a poem by one of my favourite writers, Charles
Bukowski, that tries to define the feeling the piece is intending
to show.
With this piece I have made a new two-part video in which music
plays the main role. I used an old romantic Mexican ballad from
the 70’s, which is named Felicidad (Happiness), to play
with the idea of the musical video.
In the first part, with my nephews’ help, a very simple
action takes place; it presents the English translation of the
song, so in that way this video introduces the next one, which
is in reality an electronic version of the same song.
This first part, with this mise en scene purely textual version
of the original song, plays with a selection of images in a
more relaxed way, relaying the feelings that the music transmits.
Enrique Rangel, the bass player of the Mexican rock group Café
Tacuba, mixed the electronic version of the original song. This
is my first attempt at using video from another perspective.
I also present one new drawing installation with the themes
and images in the same spirit.
Daniel Guzman lives and works in Mexico City. He has exhibited
widely both in Mexico and abroad including: Gallery Kurimanzutto,
Mexico City, International Studio Program, New York, Andrew
Kreps, New York, Generalli Foundation, Switzerland and he is
currently showing at the CCAC Institute, Los Angeles and at
the Korean Bienalle and will be showing at the Montreal Bienalle.
For further information or images please contact Sarah McCrory:
+44(0) 20 8981 3344 or: sarah@vilmagold.com |
Daniel Guzman
Devil is Debil, 2001
wood, enamel, paint
100 x 250 cm
Installation view
Daniel Guzman
Installation view
Daniel Guzman
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