Mechanization: Art, Technology in Siqueiros’ Production

Out of all the artists of his generation, David Alfaro Siqueiros was the one that championed the most the use of new technologies and industrial materials in terms of artistic production. For Siqueiros it was a condition to materialize an authentically modern art; just as he said: “without up-to-date technique there is no modern art”. Since the early 1930s and until he passed away in 1974, the muralist took in his production process the lacquer or pyroxyline, air gun, concrete, asbestos, different types of plastics, photography as photomontage, electric light; he also collaborated with some scientists, such as engineer José L. Gutiérrez from the National Technical Institute, to manufacture new industrial materials that could be useful for his mural work. While designing his works, Siqueiros also turned to the photographic and cinematographic image so as to obtain dynamic compositions that took into account the presence of mobile viewers that walk the space or drive a car through the city. This feature definitively proves the modern character of his venture: Siqueiros seems to be the first artist from the 20^th century in Mexico thatreflected on the transformations and changes in the perception field, brought about by certain technologies and cutting-edge mechanical means.

Beyond the role it played in the design, production and documentation of his works, technology also stood as a representation field for the muralist. Industrial structures and sceneries on his works seem to be anticipatory images of a utopic society; while workers, the characters linked to that industrial world, are represented with such energy that their bodies recall the perfection and durability of machines. Furthermore, since he produced public works mostly curated by the government, Siqueiros’ work can be understood as part of the self-representation strategies applied by the State, beyond the artist’s intentions.

Mechanization. Art, Technology in Siqueiros’ Production (Mecanización. Arte y tecnología en la producción de Siqueiros), open through August 10, tries to show this double reading: art and technology in the production technique and art and technology in therepresentation field.

Daniel Garza Usuabiaga
Curator