MARTE-C brings Simon Vega’s Whitney Museum to PULSE

From May 8-11, 2014 MARTE Contemporary (MARTE-C) at the MARTE Museum in El Salvador will be in New York presenting “The Whitney Museum of Central American Art, a Post-Apocalyptic Dream”, an installation by Venice biennale artist Simón Vega. Made of found objects, wood and plant-life, this ‘third world’ museum marks the first partnership between the MARTE-C and PULSE Contemporary Art Fair.

The site-specific installation The Whitney Museum of Central American Art, a Post-Apocalyptic Dream offers a ‘third world’, futuristic and tropical version of Marcel Breuer’s Modernist masterpiece, which is soon to begin a new cycle of life as the Whitney Museum moves to a new building. Created from easily discarded and repurposed material the sculptural installation speaks of a moving, nomadic, temporal and unexpected future for Marcel Breuer’s building. Vega sees this moment of uncertainty as echoing the historical instability of Central America and Central American contemporary art. In this way, Vega work underscores the impossibility of Central America having its own museum in New York, and responds by humorously imposing his own Central American Whitney Museum in to the New York art scene.

In 2013, Vega exhibited “3rd World Sputnik”, a parody of the Soviet Space Program’s Sputnik satellite in the ILLA pavilion at the Venice Biennale. PULSE Contemporary Art Fair’s quest to bring quality curated exhibitions to their program, under the guidance of Director Helen Toomer, was the driving force behind the partnership with MARTE-C whose chief curator, Claire Breukel, had curated the booth. Director Helen Toomer states, “We are thrilled to be showcasing the work of Salvadoran artist, Simón Vega, during PULSE New York 2014. Vega’s ephemeral work has an immersive and transportive quality, which will enhance the element of discovery that we are focusing on in this revitalized edition of the fair.’ 

MARTE-C is as excited to have a presence in New York, which is timely as the program launches the first of an ongoing series of limited editions to support programming and further exchange. “This year the MARTE-C celebrates its 10th year anniversary, and what a better opportunity to celebrate this milestone by showcasing the work of a Salvadoran artist at PULSE New York Contemporary Art Fair” said Mario Cader-Frech, Chair Emeritus of MARTE-C, “And also the chance to debut our limited editions print series to raise awareness and funds for the program.”

The first limited edition “Questions for My Father” by Karl Haendel will debut at PULSE Contemporary Art Fair at the fair opening on May 8. Printed by expert printer Kyle Simon, the limited edition of 50 silkscreen prints proffer Spanish text hand drawn in pencil by the artists for the silkscreen. This series follows Haendel’s solo exhibition “Oral Sadism and the Vegetarian Personality” at MARTE Museum in December last year.  

The MARTE-C PULSE project is made possible with the support of Mario Cader-Frech,. Michel Langlais, Ernst Hilger and Dan & Kathryn Mikesell. Thanks go to artists Simón Vega and Karl Haendel, and PULSE Contemporary Art Fair for their support.

MARTE-C CONTACT

For high-res images and for details of the Karl Haendel limited edition silkscreen please email claire@martecontemporary.org or call Claire at +1 917 704 5319

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