Ana Mendieta: Traces
Hayward Gallery, London (UK)
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Hayward Gallery, London (UK)
Exhibition architecture that creates a dialogue between the atmospheres of Mendieta’s past shows and the brutalist architecture of the gallery
Traces marked the UK’s first retrospective of Ana Mendieta’s work in the UK since her tragic death in 1985. The exhibitions aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of her work which encompasses a diverse range of media including photography, drawing, sculpture and film.
The exhibition design drew inspiration from three former shows of the artist's work held in the 1970s, creating an overlay of their distinctive elements. The design aimed to create a dialogue between the atmospheres of these past shows and the brutalist architecture of the gallery.
The exhibition design drew inspiration from three former shows of the artist's work held in the 1970s, creating an overlay of their distinctive elements. The design aimed to create a dialogue between the atmospheres of these past shows and the brutalist architecture of the gallery.
At the heart of the exhibition lay several digitised slide collections showcasing the artist’s oeuvre. They were presented in an environment of clad scaffold towers and purpose made furniture, covered in red carpet, inviting visitors to relax and enjoy video loops.
The exhibition also contained a large number of small scale artefacts, purposefully grouped together in archive structures to emphasise their significance and create a meaningful narrative. The entrance situation received special attention, offering visitors a choice between two exhibitions subtly guided by two wedge-shaped wall pieces.
Location: Hayward Gallery, London (UK)
Year: 2013
Client: Hayward Gallery
Curator: Dr Stephanie Rosenthal
Team: Andreas Lechthaler, Agnes Fabich
Collaborator: Mues Design
Image credits: ALA/Klaud, Hayward Gallery, Philipp Ebeling
Year: 2013
Client: Hayward Gallery
Curator: Dr Stephanie Rosenthal
Team: Andreas Lechthaler, Agnes Fabich
Collaborator: Mues Design
Image credits: ALA/Klaud, Hayward Gallery, Philipp Ebeling