However, I can’t darkened all of my thoughts of Bergamot-- The Santa Monica Museum of Art deserves some credit. I will admit that I have found myself two times at Bergamot this Summer. On my first visit, I attended Irvin Blum’s story telling whims, and the second time, I was there with a plan: to find that which moved me. In the mix of the usual eager dealer, and amidst the Dennis Hopper trend -- It can make my life sour. I found a gem, not a unique find, but quite interesting.
Yyvone Venegas born in Long Beach, California in 1970, and raised in Tijuana, Mexico. Apparently twin sister of the famous music artist Julieta Venegas. After my understanding of her twin sister, I will admit my liking of her died a bit, but I contemplated in the exploration of her more, and more, until it finally felt right…
At First Sight: Yyvone Venegas at Shoshana Wayne Gallery
Mainly falling under the category of documentatary photography, Venegas explores Mexico’s social status through the then former mayor of Tijuana, Jorge Hank Rohn, with permission of his wife, Maria Elvia del Hank.
Venegas has the eye to produce such photographs in the verge of the bizarre, and the melancholy. Her approach to minimalist titles help her complete a real effect-- the bizarre notion of social status in Mexico.
In “Velas”, 2008 (Candles, 2008), Venegas shows us her side of the absurd, but witty commentary-- a sort of humorous shot at the high society of Mexico.
The documentation of adult figures in Venegas' photographs give name to vanity, but what really caught my eye was the photographs of the children, with an environment ever so fast paced to meet the needs of the other family in the hierarchy of social status...
Jorgito, 2008: Serving right...
Nirvana, 2006: Finally reached
Bolsa (Bag), 2009: In the air
"Maria Elvia does not believe that a picture of her would give me access to the art market, who would be interested in having a picture of her hanging on their wall?!" - Yyvone Venegas
I say she fits right in...
Yyvone Venegas
MARIA ELVIA DE HANK SERIES
June 5 - August 28, 2010
Shoshana Wayne Gallery
2525 Michigan Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404-4031
(310) 453-7535 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (310) 453-7535 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Tue-Fri 10am-6pm
Sat 11am-5:30pm
what i appreciate about yvonne's work (who i went to school with, same year!) is that she shows a side of life in tijuana that so few people see, or choose to see, or choose to focus on. so much work about tijuana, imho, is about the social problems, the border, the economic inequity, but her photos show us a very different, insider's view of the rich in tijuana. [someone is actually reading this. i am!]
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