Gabriel Orozco’s first museum show in Mexico since 2006 has finally arrived at Museo Jumex, filling the institution with a staggering 300 objects that map the strange terrain of his mind. From surreal car sculptures to everyday objects reimagined as works of art, this survey is a testament to the artist’s enduring reputation as one of Mexico’s most celebrated artists.
Gabriel Orozco: A Survey of the Artist’s Mind
Gabriel Orozco‘s first museum show in Mexico since 2006 has finally arrived at Museo Jumex, filling the institution with a staggering 300 objects that map the strange terrain of his mind. The survey is a testament to the artist’s enduring reputation as one of Mexico’s most celebrated artists.
Gabriel Orozco is a Mexican artist known for his multidisciplinary approach to art.
He has worked with various mediums, including sculpture, photography, and installation.
Born in 1962 in Mexico City, Orozco's work often explores the relationship between art and science.
His notable pieces include 'La Trayectoria' (1997) and 'The Moon' (2003).
Orozco's work is held in collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
A World of Maps and Cartography
Orozco‘s work often defies easy categorization, but beneath its seemingly chaotic surface lies a profound interest in cartography and mapping. His 2013 piece, La DS (Cornaline) , is a prime example of this fascination. This Citroën sports car has been cut lengthwise, had the middle removed, and then had the right side and left side fused together to create a surreal, rounded shape. The work looks like it was plucked straight from an assembly line, yet it is unmistakably Orozco‘s.
A Comfort in the Futuristic
One of Orozco‘s most beloved pieces, Empty Shoe Box (1993) , provides a welcome respite from the show’s more avant-garde offerings. This humble work, featuring a shoe box with a pair of shoes missing, feels like a comfort in the futuristic space of Jumex. It must have been similarly reassuring when it first appeared during the grandiosity of the Venice Biennale.
A World of Everyday Objects
Orozco‘s fascination with everyday objects is another thread that runs throughout his work. Whale skeletons, airplane tickets, and photos of soccer games all find their way into his practice, often in unexpected ways. His Working tables (2015-2023) , which are on display at the show, offer a glimpse into his creative process. These tables, featuring small plastic robot toys, receipts, tapestries, boomerangs, yogurt, and even a paper coaster with the phrase ‘SO TIRED,’ demonstrate Orozco‘s ability to find meaning in the most mundane objects.
A Territorial Map
The show is like looking at a map that tries to describe the strange territory of the artist’s mind. It is a testament to Orozco‘s skill as a cartographer of his own psyche, one that invites viewers to navigate its twists and turns. As the show comes to a close on August 3, 2025, we are left with a deeper understanding of this enigmatic artist and his ability to create works that are both personal and universally relatable.
Gabriel Orozco: Politécnico Nacional is on view at Museo Jumex until its conclusion.
