BUCHLOCH-On Gabriel Orozco

7/21/2019 BUCHLOCH-On Gabriel Orozco

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Sculpture Between Nation-State andGlobal Commodity ProductionBenjamin H. D. Buchloh

T TWfiNTlU U CUIlUIY we ~ , · t wilnru"d Ih.' nlO

i n l ~ n K ' oppositions in sculplur.al produClion (confron t ing. r o r e x a m pm n I h('iT Tl'Spt'<'1 i\'t' tk"GIlt."$. Q m s l ~ n Kro ...cus; ~ n d Marnll>uch.1Il

Joseph Ik-uys and Arman, lI irhard M- rra and "v . H < ' . ~ ) . haw. fo r 'mOil J),l n , IlnfflTE'd to t'ng:.J,G(' only wilh Ihe work of ~ n i s u or ld

Imab '" r o n n ~ I k > n . I . u ( iQ Minimali.m (IT nc P(IV('r.lI. ~ n d wilh II>t' m ~ 1 p

dUCliv(' "haiel al 1hal. sincr ;1 n 1 S far I ~ S i rewardi ng 10 (oml'mptalt 111

periodl wh en Ihe prodUCIion otsrutpmre has been :l.If tI ,1'd for InM.ty unk.now

or inromp ' ... .. "' ''oom ~ ~ . for ' ' ' ~ m p in r . l n ~ l ' t i r w : ~ IhOI 1960s. 1 m

wilen sculp.u re_in Ipi.t of ils farmer grandeur from 'msmlt Rod,n 10 U"

i n t . from n c m l o i \ l t .GiKOll,e,11 - has , ~ c h t ' l l a 1"1

digmal lc f.:nigut, .h <: , hresha

of SC't'mingly dIsappearing al

gt't herfrom ¥inial cullurel.

II simibr. mo", I>'"nl'f31 wa

ing appeu s 10 ha"e ) ( " cIhe beginning of the ,wtnty· fi

(Cnlury with ..... onSl"1 ofglob

hOld "u l.uralproduction. T

mll:hI bt> ~ l I y t"pla ined

11K- f31. 1 I hal ' h" major d ,S<"O .lf

of sculp' u.., Iha, had Orlgil13

In Ihe I ~ Illlhl' Ullitt'll Sm

and in .:urope IMinimalism.Po

Minimalism. and l int I'ove

h ...l COm.' 10 full frui ' ion all(] had It·ft -iUi in .he ulI;vtrsal l) "tS('nCt a

Dona ld Judd far exam p le - an 3pparenlly irw:ammtnsur.lblt .1nd ~ u r m a l 1 nable l e g ~ c y Al I I he o r ~ as tonishing. I hen . ,h.:Il an aniS from Muic .. G a l > rOrozco. has redefined .he paramt·,ers 0 sculp' ill 'he present ;I ld Il.as 'h

contributed ' oSOllv3l1ing Ihe ~ o r y from extilKtioll. ' Coming from a COUn

and a cullu ...1{an.exl nOi g . ncrally known for In (onuibu.ions '0 Kutplu

moth.·rni'y. Orozco's si,ua'i on is perll.as» comparablr '0 'he momen' when I

ROlnanlan 8rarocusi arrived in Pa ris,o redHm KUlp' "re from IheCTilis in wh

It fOUnd ItSt' lf ROllin. IInJlidc- M ~ i l l o l . MatiSSC-. 8r:;u)(Usi"I wDrk wo

evol"f \0 Pl'rfonn all ' he posSIble Pl'nnuulionl of u l p , u ~ 10 emerge I f I ,

' ......."d,,'11 "'nlmy: from 'h ... moll d i l f t 1 " t " : I I I ~ t i a n i ~ n . . I I t devotion 10 primit

fonnl of lTJ.J.n"" l"xl.'C\uion '0 a mO<kmi$1 (lYdulity In , .... ~ of m.1Iena

from concf phon Dr, lIe sculplural obj

, . a ft'li.h ~ n d I O ' ~ ' tn ,""UlplllR"S ",I""·

e m u l ~ l o n of tile Indulln"l commodity. T

~ a p a d l y 10 syll lhcs; . t h ... ra pidly chan :,

formalions of callecl ively giveo objt Cl re

~ - . n d Iheir Hlnl'lil1i, .. ~ 1 i u l iofdtslre-made Br:mnlJi the 11)011 impona

KlIlplor of ' ht' tim halfofthe 'W.'lIlit·1 h <

'ul)'. In similar manner. OroUO'l work w

ronlnlOn and Un('()l1Il1lOn malemlli. wil h ITU

and found oojecu 100 wi t h phOlogr.lphs pro

~ a , ) n . l 1 e ~ i l i of ani . nalpt"rf .... ion l a ~ ><

in his ,err:JcOlla p it'<:es, and t ' < : h n o l ~ I

dcploymell l of romplHcr t(lInologv to disp

all 'h e possiblt' pt"mlU'Jl iooslnllenon, in Onf

h l ~ r ~ r n abSl r ~ n l>Jin'mJlS from ' lit' < l m ~



-,W b r i I I ~ _ W.. ...-.- ........ . . . . . . . ._c- . ,o f___

- '.-;.o.no.-...".. _Idooo...__. . . ". - t7" 1» ' : \oJ.J<IIII ).O ..du ........... _. -

._M . I , , ~ '_ . . . ._ 91' .IOLoo> . _ _II, "·· . , .. ~ · · n n J-...., - -

.---.-. . 101• .... • • .... ~ . .--,._...... co-.,.r . . . .- .... - _ ......1___

TIW Jerit • Danikliool Arr'"wnlool. 200II) aJ il hovtn ~ W M n lakil\i r f f O \ J ~ 10

ptimiliviulli prxt ic f t and mythiaJ rnooKftaod the II10H adv.I.ncrd fomuofa

l\"Chnologkal (omtmpor,lIwi,,.. Whn .. II ' 1 I ' ~ l l < b hw l( within prrpc1u;a1Ilklb;ol

m()V("ll'IC'nl. ' .... nu ..r I ( ... and tplM.-nWTalit)'. al 1M SiI"''' t unt il l'mbr;J(es. If IlOl

; n t i ' l ~ on. :l.n .lImos: p;aradollial rq:iorulill SpKlooly 0 malm.lls. morpholo

l in.and KvllOFo'phin.

TIm, Of"" rould brJin by a.kinS wMlhl'T-and 10 wh:ll ('XI"" _l\lIliun.,tat .

i 4 t ' n l i l ~ ~ h ti " lDaw\;m" or Malan ' actually atr«t ICUlptur;d production.

, ina lJ)'t"hronid y ofproduo;tion. m.1t.,ri.Jb. and ~ U r due' 10 n; lion.1l or

~ l i o n . 1 1 di'lidn <'QUid r;uily xcoum for MImI,' 0 Ihto f l r ~ n s c r disJUnc1ioou

In the hiSioryofK'Ulpturr. And _ would a ~10 clanfy wht1htor IhC' hlalus iwlWffn obJo.

Itt . procltdUtH and ma, ..rials ~ n d t h ~ newl)'

elOC'rgln, morpholog"" orform ",lUlu from

the ' U l l u ~ l I y sp«llk ""I , ten orthe IW.tion·

l ine . or whether we;a", in f;acl confronted

with a situation ohsyn.chronkllY In which thf

p a ~ d l g m l ofa luppcMdly a l K h o ~ Ir;ldhlon

Ue ~ " d d ~ n l y confmnlrd wilh r ~ d i c ..1IKhni·

cal and m a t ~ r i a l i n n o v ~ I l o n $ i n the "':lnnO'r

II ~ n c u i i

rt'Cognlzed Ihl' anI helic\ l a l '

Ill' If n.,t ~ p r r i O r i ofa m:Khink I . t l to an

a t l ~ n a l l ) ' tT.llI:td sculplul':Il objKt, or In the n1annu tlul Duchamp Inilllfd on

making 1M m \ l f ; ) ( \ \ 1 ~ obJM Ihe p i ( ~ m k tland.lrd ohl l : lnink obj«t pr

dU(1ion in the reldym:ld . . Aftrr :Ill. ,h . (und;unenlal l'pbtenlUloginl chanl/eo

Ihat dell'rminl' Ihl' prodUClion of Io('UlplIl rl' O«'Ilr t1m orall In Ihe collcc iw

uperiencl' orl hl' rntrocluring of obj«u l M ' m ~ l v n for ..umpll' . 10 late al

Ihe 19:ros French n.:.inUrt'am lCUlptu .. a l l t m p t ~ to re:lli>t'n an arcluk.lf'Oo

pohlkallydcfiMd identilY ]:II ~ n in Ihe deI,,",,11' cbum for a MNluuranun

fnonchllt'U in M;ullo '1 work) In r ~ r 10 l u n ~ i n and KdtKl' indunmlly pro

duftd)'fl nalioN lly I U I U ~ JubjKtivilW$. Thf ronlradinions oflllCh claims

could be Hl'IIlplifiNi by poinling 10 Ihf limullanl'OUl appral':lnff or "':lillol ' l

/ t IoIN_ oj ' C i ~ 1 I I I I ' ]'9U-:ao). 8I':1n(lul', I"I1IIocm X (1915-16). and Oucl'lamp's

M • • • • .

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IIrLlr 1uIkt.... r Q ~ d, I'OII"'t (19111 If '*art al all willin, 10 accl'pl an anlsled

....1dymadc wilh a poolov.ophkcomplf.

mtnl wilhin lhe canonielll definitions of

KUlpeu", in lhe I_nlicth n l u r y While

Brancu.i'J work w u prrcl'lvl'd .11 Ihl'

time by the Ir.tIdilion;1I public al an atl of

1'tbl'lIion and IUbj«tNllo C'mMlI'

.hlp.lh . work W(>U1d ....., .. " ~ L l y adv:onctl

Ollr u n d ~ r $ l a n d l n g Ihal all S(Ulplllral

lInil't lihe OIW Ih.;\ motiYaIH authoria l as

moch 3' sprctJtorial behaviorl r i g i n ~ t e sIn dtlmnd$ for I'lI'lM'rienllal cchan ofthe

pan objccl.' TILl' Duch3mpi3n objt>n I'V\'n fun IlI'r by fu, int I hI' e ~ i , fOl'

IhO' pan objo oel d i ~ l ) ' wil h tM ~ h ~ 1 I ofl hl' romntOdllY. and by InKriblnlll ...

p h o l l > g r ~ l > h i c colUtroC'lion of t he: andto&Y nQuI uulhon..1 lubj«' wnhin the di ...

p ~ funa;"n. of t ... ob.J<'CI con'aiMr il",lf. nm. a, ..",lpI,,", -f'Vt'n mort'IUb

~ v e l y [11m Br. lKUsi- I t di'im.;I.II1IN1IM founcbliol.:.1 p.1lriaKh:l1 cbinu oflll<:

K'lIlplOC'''' "'"'" conlrol O"O'r and to the' bbidl",, «lIK'I'plLOIl and I ' tJ lf 'Hfll '

[;a00n of be I enuLl' body, ptibliaLlyh.'I.lldl"111 l i t (blllll ofbodily ....In'*n Lal ion

.,.....r I., Ihr production ofobjtcl$ and the' rt'Iimn orfuhion and conlUmption.

[helllf:lWhtff bodily rtpltiC:nlalion In f;K'\ rnidl'd inanyraw by , .... '9_

Orouo has It:lmNI all 'he cruc;a l ~ n o n . from Dochamp (and from John

and I"iero Manroni). ~ n d he h:ll IJken thtm IM"rh..lop ' mot\ ' ~ r i o l i l l y Ih..lon

mosl orhis M'ft1By frcqucnlly altemali", found and n l ~ 1 \ l 1 1 y nun"f;Ktumi

objt'(ll. by hybridmn, I ... body, I ... pNlCO_ I ... INti ...of .... Ipeu"' Jfmm



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lerrXOlla 10 lilll. from bronze 10 CXluS le<lvl'i. from chance imprint.' 10 p h ngr.Jph$l. h .. ha5 forfdtl'd lhe r ~ l i t Y of,he KUlpto.·s intenlional ity ~ l I d ski

H.. hal given up tr.lditlOn.1111kl Ott'tY <lnd rontrol O\'er lIier.m::hkal orden thai h

iool.:nro if no< pri .. lq;ro p;ortkul:t.r upN-i"n.l:t.1 fon n . ' .pedfinU) "",1I uI

11IiI m i n g lhe work ofar1iiitlllKh a) Serra orDrl AndR' alllht' Into I

p ... lIy hbt'r.lting the Gltegllty ofKUlpluT'I' from tht ron otr3ints of n prop

conV'tnlion •. Omn'U unrovo'n.-d a shcerin tinlty n ~ w (OCCI. ufwhal ("Qu

romtitule t he CU lTt'lIt rondltion of thi' KUlptlll"<ll. ....ccordingly. hit inttlVt.'ntw

........,;allhal Ih,> sculptur:IIl obje.::n Ir:llditiottal bl;'(>15 ofmass =111 . ofV'Qlul

and Itl'Ivity. of tt'XIUR'. surf;Ke. and plact' 1I<Ivt now n disl)Crsed wilhin Ihe

very I't'giuen - r.ll her than. u in Ihe context of Cooct'plu.al an. h ~ v i n l l . be

Ir:tnsf,·rn. .. inlO Ih ..... gi$l.cl"S o(lh . P<'rfonnaliw. Ih . phologr.aphk. Ihe so ma

or Ihe lingui k-<lnd U 3 ronK'qut'nct' the pl"l'n'plion of tile KUlptur:t1 lulbe

in, .. tably shi ftl'tl in lo tht diu(-'min;ul'd R'gisl(-'n of his SP«' lL IOU' disll';KIl'd ~tk-moytd rt'latiomhipllO the mal{'rial world. NOlI surprisingly. Iht arlill Mplo

Ihe photogr;lphic m ~ ~ i n llit' m;)n1lt'f Conct"pHl<ll i n - u a record 10 U;

I d i ~ r i n nd deslnlCl ions. ;ooivilin and disappll'a r.aI'l{n of tht' KU Ipiu

frol1llM- .ubj«t·s I ' h ~ ~ of , , C l l t tMoT'l' precllely. Orozro's work le;Kht'I ~ l t h e :K1.lve ~ n d Ihe . u s l ~ pr

dl' l s ofiICulplUT31 p < > r c ~ p t i o n Mf c t e T O g m · o u s - l o t I g ~ d in Ihe coll (,,

rendilions of objea R ' l aluge. In Ihf lubj ,t s a .., ..ss1011 ..11 . 10 brt'31h. and to visi

' in. for exam pit' . /tulIp lu

Nat,, . ' ' J90)- but Ihm III"y a

t'qu;lIy conlrolled by Ihe su

jKl·$ brcalhles$ slIbmiUK'

Iht' cOlllmotliry's cuerclon. W

~ ~ m from Ihe contemplation

hb work t h3' k"lIlptnr.tllJ<1il

u n be fou nd ' Ihe r e ~ l t nprt'C3rious S \ l r f ; o , ( t ' ~ of waler

.. 'n in Pi«llrd &III. 993.or I'm

oof /ROlf

'9931or lilt' rl"<lgile IUIUretof planu IMLdotts. '9991. OrI«

IUddecomprehend Ihat iIC" lpt ur.tl up<>ricno: in til . pnsem will mon likely ori

nale ill Ille (unive acddt'nt .o r lhal il will be ( nd in Ihe alealoty and indexi

imprint 11'Itld11l,CStonr. '991 1. Mml convincingly. Orozco I U lo ugue lhal I

d" fining fonn St'Ulptur:.1 budy C'3n ."tJU3Uy Ix-' fOLlnd in r ...dom a .. n 1 U l aof dispersed or y s f i . l J l c t i o n ~ 1 . IkLtur:ll . or l i l i l ~ r i a n objects (the oT3nges in Cn

TOlirUt. 199 1. and 1I /tIIt /tun. 199:1. or Schw;tlbo.· 5(ool(-'n in UWliJ rOIl Hnd AMl

) ........ 5<1'... 11... 19-'951:al; much a:> il n r('$idt' in lin al1lhro «<,lIIric cr.anium (1J

K'ltl. '997)or Ihe skelelon of a wtkLlt' IMobile' Mu" ... l 0 0 6 ~ Orozco definn KII

tun' as a .,...".,Iual x c l l a . ' h ' be'\wt't'n Ihe myoUd i ~ i b l OC invisibLe r e g i : i l r a l ior I he ~ u b j « 1 imprinl$ on Ihr world. ~ d o W > ' ~ n d l l a J in Dw. l lr ..

Sno ... '993. or in \ \lIiflng Choil'S. '9')11 1. <II mue-h ailM myriad pressures Iht' Ina

rl;t.1 . ..k l imprints Oil ,he , ub}«t. T1>:lI . . e l L a n J ; ~ a n lake I fonn of 311 3Ulo

Illonous agglon'er.Ll ion O(dust p;Lnkln (llntriJ. :lOOt )or oftlle ulli1U.1IC~ l e g

ohn unromciol.ls. (011«1,"1' sculplural int\·nllOnahly. drcl.lring obj,..,,, a. "Jl

I ~ r 001 0 pl""".- Ihe 1I0rtObjt.:U and void<'d mal<'1'lal:i org;arbage illelr(1'rns1.T v,

1'rI;«t. 19'}81.

Ewn in I he mOil radical forms ofsrulptllre oflhe .g6oi. rrom eLK'S Oldenb

10 Hans Ha;,ckt'. Ihe inct'Nsing dl tnioollon ohculplllral procrsscs and m.1t

als h ~ d slllI befon quar:tnt ined wilh in Ihe sprcificity o f a "srulplllr:tl" objea.

rollll"<ll'. Orozco has uamrcm' ~ m a l l ' r i ~ l and JLm«'ncs ,nto Ihe .ph,·re

I m «mullon i l ~ .. .and ~ l r u ( ' \ l . I r e s This i .....idem. for ex:unpl.·. ill a ro ml"

belwt'(-'n H ~ c Ctmdt-'PULltion Cubt I 963-651and Orozco's \\'11 " 1I1ch (1'.1

or fImIlh on J j ~ 1 I ( I 1m . where 1hI' p roc: ..n or o n d c m ~ l i o n iii one or an inlin

n u m b C ' r o f p o > l i b l ~ sculptural eVent. «curring wilhin a found objKl-TOIl

I han . : . h. td bro::n .he ' I with II.-,xk". in a p;anicular K \ ' l p l t l r rumai r-III<



.-.obrid Iloo. , _ KiI<>.

0ft'1 GnphI . . . . . .k ....'h ':',,,,. ,.~ ' '_ tI_"*1"1'... -< ....-n ....... _

.- -"" . .. . pI<-.. .......

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I U A H. D. IU GIHOH

I, ali valid as any l I > ~ r m : l . 1 ~ r i or i p>.liot ..ml"'r:1l de finition. 1IU1 WI' $hould not

r ~ t a l l ~ himlrically fonm<i a n d C ~ l o ; o g t 1 r i n ( l r ( ' m f r g i n g a n d dill

appearing objKI ..,lalions, chow lou and those still I i b l r H) lhe Subja1. haw

d r : l m a t k ~ l I y rhangl'd in Ihe P"II ' ... O:'lIly ),<,3T'S. Ihe i m ~ frame of Qrozce)"l riS('

a, the- SCU lptor of h is gt'I>er.uion, Therefore . il II not lu rprising tOl find a r : lngl ' of

un anl-d malenals and obj«u ((u. o aml'l(', oran8ft and Ikulls, tlUCk r e ~ and

whalt'bonl'1l and u n ~ n procedurel 3T111 t ( ' d ' l n i q ~ 1 (comb ining found obj«11

wilh IQgcd a«:umuL:u lonl.:U [n u, a r<l\j And MoI/w'r \( iIo)wSdM'II1br or UOOl<' •.

o r 'gillenn, giVl'1I o r alealOl)' procru e. 3. ~ I [ I I U r : l l illlc rv,om io;m ., :IS in , he

f t s or Ptmtr WOrt I'rIljtll l in 0r01CO'S ~ I h ~ t extend far beyond t ile ~lcctia th.:ot h;ul bn-n l id up bd",..,..n R r ~ n c w i ~ n d Ouct.;,mp. btotWt't'n s . , u y > ~ n dArman. or ooWftn St-rra aoo Ilene . And in II>ite ofiniti.11 ~ p p e ~ r . l I ' I c . Orozco's

wor l h: ~ I s o fumbmemally i l f f ' 1 1 1 f r o l 1 l l h l ~ i . . s of AnI' P o ~ e t : l 10 which

it h.:os bn-n too ollen compMN. After Ant Povero. ",·hl ... ,plU;nrd simlLlr

tran itionaL mome m bel"''ffnan igna ), I l l 1 l i o n - s t ~ l e cu lt,, , and I he iml'1'

n ~ t i n ~ 1 corpor.niution of object prodll(tion. wu st iLL driven by t ieMin ' 10

pum.te lhoe rn idual ~ n t l ) ' ofa troty Llalian art-throu,h implicit or ex pli<'tl rd·

erennos to the grand n ..terials traditiolls of the ,culplural a sep.lrate diJei·

pUne-as nidtm. for ~ m p in I1M' worlc ofLllciano Fabro or J.1nnis KOItnt'liis.

or in its ultlmatr r p l ~ n C t ' OfKUlptu , as a c1O ed form and diJerN e obj«t .

:u oppooso:d to thr J'O't-c.gcoan concrpt ofscu lplun' as an event or an infinitelyextrntU.ble process 1M perfOI'll\aJKt'.

How. then. ,,,Id '.., possibly identify and Ik-snibe tht national and hisl ork:tl

sprcitici )'ofOrolCO's KUl pt un '. tile worlc 's l ~ M a ic.m ~ l l t i l y - a t timrs

peninrm . a t Olhel'i fu lly u nfalholllllble? Onr could argue. for eJL1lllp ... tl\;ltlht

hislom l and goopolil i(";ll sptC'iticity oft ht> sClIl I> u res of Beu)" and l"'sOl origi·

,<'II in the f:an ,ha, both (on tile opposite o 1 i l i c a l l r O l l n d ~ ofvktimiu r a.ld

viniml h;K\ w i u ~ l s t ' d tile annihL L1tlon ofihr hUman subj«t and had reroroed

t he destruclion 'l f the human body nn an industrial .n lr . Fu rl h,·Tnln..e . onr

could a , 'e l l h ~ ~ x ~ ~ n c n ~ n d fonnt n o w ~ d ~ w h i 1 e hardly. if

r ,r, explicitly lIaled-cons tituted 1M foundaliOlUI btelX)' of h ~ KUlptort'

,lat ion' t'l ma teria.,. morpholOJit-s. and ~ u r f a c n Obviously. t hc tpKHkily of

Or'lu:o's hitt'lrical and « ' p o l i t i c ~ 1 condition it f u m b m e n t ~ l l y different . is

an an iSI WhOftm'1IN from a 1I.1Ii'llHlatf cultureWMI1', dnpllf a cominuous ty

l'Xp3nding indullirlaliz.:nion. everyday cultu , 4 ' ' ' m ~ to both ,iUfTer and bc n d il

from 3 of n'lidU.ill forms m Y l h i c ~ l uperifncf ( I 1 l O I n i f n ' ~ t i o na popuLl.tion p e ~ a t e d by myth mighl includ<:' imlrracyor poveny. or 11'Ll.live

pnl ximhy to p " ' i n d u ~ r i a l funlt' of production l_All Qfthcl'<' co ndition. In

~ m . 3 presumed proJrimi ), 10 m y t h k could lifter amll l C C ~ n 10 dif·

fo 'I1'1I1types of l ub,iKtivilya lld obj«1 reLl.lionu

W h ~ t is tho:- functi'ln 'If the "my, hic tl - in sC'ulpll.nl form31ion51 EJampws

might rangc from . once 3g:J in. lIranrusi ', inVQ(ation ' lra u P J M 1 ' d l y Urllllien'

pl1'industrial idenli ), In IIIe an::hit«lural pea 3l1t c;r.rvingl of h is Ronlllnian

h o n ~ rt'gion 10 Orouo ', pan icubrdevotlon to su rviving fngmr nl .



GAn,no.oleo

c.tm.I """"'" Dro", '_ • p . J o I""""",>pi\. , - ,. , J"-,u < . . .1c- ._o f , _

.l HnM- t t p t _ ....,101. fibrqLa . , , ~ ...

....u.. ......... . n l , ~ .

., .. >0' " " '0 nh" .... '4

" ·>7.8 '0 .1 . . . , ' .......n t_ . _ ",,- _

. . , ' -- ,

:.nisan31 ]lr.Inicet lhe UUS" of II'Ir.lNI.I:. or Ioc-;II pbnts. for ~ m p l e J or obj«

r 1 . ' p S o e m ~ l n t ' of uu. C ~ n d Maya riIWli5lK o l t u ~ (Ille imiJICr>a on Ihe: ctrcuL

I h ~ > h ~ r i c : a l . or I"" ball"},, ~ l i d Kulpwnl form). or his penchant 10 mobili

lo-call<'d i m l l i ~ pl'OCd1utd of n,anuf3ltu", ",nd al'fhak objC<1 'Yl'<'s Iskul

i k ~ l c t o n l l . Finn of all, Orozco know, full W 1 1 l 1 l h ~ 1 any K \ I l p l u r ~ 1 ob,it'cl lak i

rKours.e 10 Ihe oUII1;u«1 would inevilably in Ih" Surn'ali.1 cbims o

p.ln5itk;Il OKCCSS 10 a dysfun(lional and un[nsrrumemaliz«1 objecl experic'

thai 00 01 her objoo is pt'mlilled 10 off..,. any long<'r. H" abo undenundll hal a

ICUlptUlOI1 objKI cl.l.iming 3 I ' o C O I ~ r y of [he n ~ l u r . l l · it'd0Cft OM intO a fr.lud

knl d ~ p I ion. namely the ]xoli"f IhJ\ the o l l K 1 i ~ iU\lCluring of object t'X\

rielXe could st ill racili1J[e acC'tii 10 an " ncOnlamin:ncd nawrt' wh"n in fact

will only lolftrate Ihal experieJ\(e:'$ a IPKlaculariz«1 and ) n l P ~ m o ' t l exc.

ho n. Th inlly. and posSibly mini imponanl ly. srulplUr.ll regremons mto myt

COIl primi[iviIY. obsolescenC'f'. and [he m b b l \ ( ' f ' of Ihe natunl also promj", I

sp:oli,,1 ~ n d m ~ t c r i a l f i g l i o n s of an ul"'rience III , mn",monic if not I

utlCa"ny, ~ < ' n ~ i I l l ofhllving M n 11 rrullenlaJ spare befo",hlI"d. as '",

ddirn:d [hal i m ~ l I s o n ofsp:llial and objfct m ~ m o r y . Memories ofl hll[ ....hich h

b.,.,n. and whkll is now n O)Ik.'Ct• . in .\nIlp[II",. can be found in p l l Corne

box J.s§emblages. OTt in a "ety ditleft'nt way. in Annan's accumul;uiom. or .....n

sculpl""'" d,·':(l(,., 10 'hl' menlory of Ihe body: QIlCe this hOld bern dCSfro,'rd

had become m · l r i e v ~ b L e . il b K a ~ ft'JItl.'St'nlable only:.s Ihe r ~ l l m a l i z e d bo

In the tll1ions f t h ~ 5<:ull" unl ubjl'<1ja$. for uamplt'. In work by Ev:r H e s S l 'FrOnllhe most arthaic memory ofl>odily e ~ l ' e r i C ' n c ...s 10 the rnost UI1\<

responle 10;' r e p r e ~ n t ~ l i o n J I crisis in Ih t' prut' nt. Orozco's sculpture h

answero;d t h ~ s r ,ndil'jdual and «)1IC ('li"" dcnunds. occurs prt'dst

in the lpac t ' l belWt'l'n desi rable Ir"nsgnuions and Ihe available COlwell1 iOllli

",la, ing to objE'C1l alld m ~ l e r i ~ I I , h\,lwt't'n Ihe co nception of TOldically difl'ert

It'll Ofobj,'(1 relat ions and tIM' exiS1ing pr.ocliQ't of{t)nlrol and C1)I1tamin;ttion

Ihe ,ubjrcl wilhin the ruling commodlly regimes. In many ways. t ~ n . Ihe "m

ic:lllilnlO" ofOrozeO's work Ihal K I I O C ' ~ his Wesle rn Europl'an and Amerio

audiomcn original l J in our own fonnl f l : ' r o l l ~ o n . in ourown <ielirr for " II

myth of hlIyj ng acren 10 thr n"u"r.l1 world. and In our own , d b i t ~ b l $C'n$C'

:octi",ly p;lTlklp;lting in the dl.'Slructlon or ille remot", "natural" and "mythic

world. OroU'U K'UJI'IUr'O' anirubt.·s I hal al "wry n",nWnl oft hl' day"",' an' .n

jfctrd to and promulg:lle t ile accelt'r.llion of l ~ J I ( ' f ' [h:1I we witness [fO

lional objt'<1s and malcrialilk>$ 1'3nilh Imdemeath our own hall(b. and t haI "

K't' Ihem being repl;t«d ag:Unil our will. or oulside 0 our control . by J>col't'lof

unknown lext"'" and 11 rue t""""

I

-



_.---... __ I:< M._. 1 1 1 - ~.5 ' ..··21 '' ' ....1"" , ' · _ ....1_ . -. ~

-......... . ...,....,...... cJ or

, ., ... ' '..,.....-..0_ ,... . .

. . . . . . . . wk. , ) , . _

poIooo . . ... _ , ' I ' JJ '

, t , .- jj; , '0;." " ml......__..- - , ~ , = ~-.....;.;.,-, ..

- -- ...._c .o . ...-,_ ........-- - o,_ N._l I_ .

.......

Tlll,li Ihecoro«ption oftllC' m)'thin l in Ororco-ll1C' ~ u i , rnusdl3tion

orthl' lpo '("ifkilin of myth and ~ 1 1 l I . > f Y I o d I l M in 'he o n ~ n l l o n ' o f ~ l i o n -.... Uu ...-al"'' '"1'' au" 'n ." dl.o'rc, ka l ....... wlln th . anlu ' , ProF('U ; ,b:I.

wh k h appears;u a n"dtmption ~ l l ' l t objra and 1M u ~ r I ...nc: .. o(tM natur.IIl

J i g n ; I l J a l l l l C ' g ~ time Ih;it l l C ' o p r r W ~ o f l ~ o b . i « t I$JuJptndftlln acond i

lion 0 11l1I1«t. of obIill'nlion or b s o k " K \ ' ~ 1 t l C obj«t ptl'lnCalM by m)'l h I.

IIC'rr inJlamly K ' O S " u ~ as OIW.' 1Ml is : ,.) ;l1... >IIy ",millN ..,. m p o w n ~mtn1 and ~ n d ( ) n . Wh..tl "ppe:lrlU II'It nabllily ofnl)'lh :ugull . UJ aJ a flitfit'

d«pIy rnon<inl with ll'lt condition of hUtOIl' at a nll:lUmHr. Orozro' , mobiliu

lion oflhe mlWmonk dilM1loon ohhe obJ«t - a t it must apptar 10 1hoe O U I $ ~world - is oft .n an " nirullll ion onhe' ob;en ', forlorn ~ n d daobl . rondi

tion. and a dHirr for iu fulurr .. moancip;lIion. 1 wI one0 a (dtbratory i o n10 a de$u;lbilo lilal .o(" ' l i ly.on a allaillftl bul now loR.

conditions ora u m ~ r u l l y deill"Of"l b H o n J h i p 10 t ~ matftUl world

0 oo;«t ~ I K ' t ' - x ~ llul could Kill oonJidft'objrcU al l ' " 'riult

oflabor. lhal maiMd tht dilIll 'nlionl of l" ';r own maklne. lhal ~ m b o d i n l tM

funniorui oIuloe v;ahJ,e and I ' " I . mporalily oInlC:lOOf)'-art prob.I.bly tbr nklllliUi.

<ltm moc;v;atlons to bKome a JCUlptOl' in Ihe pJ'\"Jt'nt. and it ~ m l , h ; a l Oro«<l It

tIM' IiDIIO IlM'm ,1M' p r i n d p ~ ofhb production. u n h k ~ KIm( '

other lO rtisu. fron' I g c . , n t . k andJnon t l . ~ 10 Rxh . lbmlOn-k'Ull'loni

who~ ~

yi .kIe<I wilhool rrslstanct 10 II\(' unlwrullk'sllunion ofobjKt "xp'r i'f n ~ ~ n d who have ~ n d n I ovnlhe oonmun;on orKUlptllre to tbr merrly ha p.

h.:Ict.1rd acnlnHlial inn of I"" grot.-squc. comw.. ..1 1 n l l o n oft ...sh -()rw;co

In.;tlJ on in""ribins a dial«1k. of n.;uun: and culwn: wI hln Ihe .tructun: of hi.

worlt.11 II a dlaJ.enklt in wllkh J l I ~ It not rqualt'd with ••1IiflKtion bul with

lulT'oalion. one ' in whio:h Ihe- CNWk't1 ... i l ~ b i l i l y ofobjKtJ i, not ('OfTfiati", to

gra lificallon bulI0 ..ndk't1 dturunion and lhe dilOlp]X'a ...nf . ofrHOUKft. .lind

on f in whkb t ' " IlI inw and control OrdHirr by SIr-llre]H ofrontumpllon i t

not ~ l r b r . . t n l "" lhorlriumph f . ~ f u l ",bsli Uliont but a nn intinll" rep'I;'

I lono(xu «Iou: l"'uagicdHuunion of objKt rXp'rlm« In lhe n l U al

th" r i ~ n ofOrozn", KUlptu ...J inlrn,il),. Thul whrn. I n ~ O r o z l U t " l ~Mobilt Mcrtrilr- lhe imllllffiH' tule10n 1 a wluk-- in tM lIil:>liot.ta a ~ 1 O Iin Mu loo Chy. tJw l]X"OalOl' _confmntrd with an Intfnloe d i ~ l « 1 i c o t l npni

f on the onr hand II imposs,blt. not to _ Oro.co·s m ' 1 t I ~ l I f e on t ....di."..ns >On 0 <ltalh and Ih . i s a p p ' ~ n n a ofthc- n ~ t u n l condition ~ a r l yca llrd fonh by the KUJplure's l"Hul'n'('liQn o(.li burlrd l w o ~ tkfN.lon tram I ...

..,nd. ofa. .? Caltfomi:l_At the ~ " " " t i m ~ . whno (()nt . mp1at11li I ... whak in a

library. It waJ Impouiblr not 10 50'(' il;as a prosnomm.alK" palrmrnl on tM n rp -

lion of t('ul ptunl ulopian

Ihouehl In Iht p r , , ~ n l•• though it _no a rrnn-

l ion upon I h ~ hif\ory of

Conflrul"I, ..I mQd['rnbt

t<'Ulpture lat. for txampl ..

In Althandr Rodchtnko's

CNilJ m l l l r v r t l l )C '' lao. or Iht ludic opll

m;,m of Al['"an<\tr C;.ldl'T't

".oblle. of 'he '')30"1 and

It. proud Or playful j"iis•

Il ' t \ ( l ' on I ...ntp;lrency and

mO<krnhl k lf·rrtkxi ..hy.

iu d « b m ~ I O r y and 11 1 -gOl ' n l .. hos of"nK'tu ...1

['w ld . nc .. t u chlnl Ih .

Spfn.lOIOI"IOk'C' how lulure and lInK'turr. mati and sravi1y. _[Jlhl and m.1lln

all ln l"""I.1,, to not only dlrfilM' Ihf body 0 a KUlplure btu alto 10 corulilulf a

Ioelf<ooscioui. pt'fUiring. I'hmomotnolcJsinl JUbj« in 1M .pl'fIaton., ;0(1_ h ~lhe archaism and primiti>'ilyo(tM IMlfton. dlrploy«l hfff as '" prllNJ)' modtl



. . . . . . . ~ O . O l C O

-l W r t ~ ' _ ' ~ ' . , o . . .I9SoI ......... 1$ '. · 3 ' . • ' ..( ' » 7 ' 09 MIl_ -

.......... " . .

-,..... ....

- .. '~

-,-- t.o IJ$. '99l- J<-pII

__ io ,D$. $.; : . ; ''''J ,.....I'>-'S ~ _ ' 5 , ........ ." .. . . ; . ~ , ' .. <It........ •......,•08...,. , . , .:.. 'to, ..... p.oi.tIl.-l poIn.._ ..._ ..... _ ...... · :10·oOwo<._. . c... . , 1;] ' J.JO' ' ' .-oj

--. _ _-_ ....... .,., . . .-00\

........ --

for ( o r p o ~ ordt-r 51rucfUr.lluppon,lig.nallhe hislorical disappeuan

nf utopbn hope:1I it Iud ' - ' n ("rmr.'l"ly .·n,bodi.'d in I he projKtS of modern

5 C U l p t u ~ . trom Rodchcnkoand ColderloSern.

One of, 'll' 11J{'"ions Ih3\ migh. rm erge . . ou ld ~ . o what m Kul ptu

production 'hil momcm in h

lOry would ha vr 10 nlobllizr .

rHourcrs and IhfO fic l ions of .

my. r c ~ I grounds of subJI-r••v

in order 10 ~ s [ s 101.,,1 dino

lion of thc $Ubject and of o I 1 K t lo jecc rxpetitnce wil hin a ll)'Sle

or n j v e ~ l tt'("hnO(r.I'ir contr

Anolhcrqurs'ion migh. fon

rrgi ,,,. in which ouch n " ( " o u , " "l o _ m ingly mono tkep ly in iCri

01 mo ... hardt-ned ft'"tuft'S of

ti tim or au,hentk iden'ity mig

Would Iht'S(' r pc;OU fR1 ha

to ~ p ~ r t l a l 1 y I o d g ~ in the Ir

O('i ofl he OOIlion-stale. :o simul

alli,udcs 'o make Ih . spec'a

comider the l O " ~ i b i l i l y of an ah

n.lle objKt ~ p l ' r i e l K f ' . different from III r giV 'n one of otal . dminiilr..ion a

m ~ n . n l l O n ? Or W(M.J1d ' hcl'C rrroUrH'1 work on Ihe onler 0( .he uncO

Kious (aJ in Ille SurrealiSl I ( ' g x (lr h i ~ l ( l r i G i I m ~ m O I ) in 1Ieu)'ll and HesS

Or would K \ l l p t u ~ h ~ v e to ~ k e T K O U ~ to newlydi iCovered m e n ~ i o n Of

indu ;Irially foOllol:d sp::1i.::lily'?Thiscould r;lilgr from t ho: srolpillr::.l work oI"8er

and lima Il«brr. where. lie u . rr me sp«ificiry ofi heir rulion ·s.ate identily

pos.war c;...mlan artisl5 could new r be p a f J t l " < l from Ihe universality of t h

conccption ortbr $(Ulptur.oJ ;u thc ind usn l.:,J. In 5(> ., .,1.$ n'«1I' l:iflll'-se;ole wor

w l l t ' ~ th .. i m m e n ~ ; oflhe r u c t u ~ s i i u < l d ~ n l y acqu irn an u n e ~ p l ' C ' ( ' d ~ .of the sublime ....ithln Ihe sphe rr n o I O & i c and : u ~ acqui

an q u ~ l l y unuprcted, specifically American Ir::.i•. l'unhef1llOn. 10 what I ~ 1would . his .nob ili ... wn nfa my' hkal un,. y br' ...l .. n .ubj« t alld .ub)<'C1 (as

e thnjcJJly. Tf'ligiously. or n:uion.olly defin i. < I idemi'3 ri.an l a l n u ~ btI .. ....n subj



c.&,\tI0 _ n blw

"",..,." 't')' Twool .......,.._h,..uo"._b• ' , . 11 ' ' , ' CU.l ' : I t . ~f.....or'~ ~.., _

. n ) ... ' II, 0 .Ur . . ..,.. .

and objKI Cu in Ihe fiction o f u n a ~ l \ l l e d forms o f p ~ i n d u m i . a l Ui'len.:eand

anisanal produClion), and betWftn nalUI ' and culluI ' mel 'ly lake I ' C O U ~ 10

'" Onion I hal liD long'" ~ . . . , a x c of any hi o"ic;ol ."alily? And to, w h ~ 'degl '(' WOUld it be l > e ( e u 10 ~ o x : n It\;Il Ihe dl."l']'l SIn.Ktu"" Of cultu .. ·

idemily formal ion are imriniicaUy iJUCribed wilh I deceptions and I w.- Inflic·

lions arrort ; ng lowhkh a lubjKt had origin:tlly b«onlC' an ;n,,,, .. 1 ~ n ' in

lhe proc..'J$ alld prenurl'll of pOlitical subjKllon. once called Ihl' format ion of

IUliona] kk-ntily?

In his by now dassie lUI on Ihe form"lion orlhe nalion'>lale and iu iokological functions, Benedkt Anderson Ir.K'I'iIlh . dl"l ..nnInlng Unks bt'lween dis.:cp

pc'arill$ rellp: .us idenlitles and emerging nalional idenllties. r v i l l $ iupposC'dly

35subslilulions for the IoJs of Iubje<:ti\'e uperience in cullk pr.>elias.1 Not sur

pril ingly. I l n c ~ Aod" rJOn" p pNtlve I. Ih:lI of 1M histOrian. 1M funclion of

~ u h e l k u p e r i e n c e as ~ ~ o l i f i c a t l o n from Ihe ethnic. Ihe , ligiOU5.

and l ilt' rt.aILonalinic in a laI1ler pl'OCfiS of b r i z a l i o n al ' I'Iewor addressN . Yel .

inevilably. Ihe " " I h t i c Wt)Uki have 10 occupy a major pl.il« in any $U(h confid·

er-ulon since ilis I'I","ally u b s e ~ m and sulwersive.luspended betwffn cull

and political rule. connktl'd belW('('n loy.>lty and dlwllnl lrnce 10 I h ~ rrIi8;OUS .

lhe mythlnl. {I M: historical . and ( I'M: o n 3 1 processes ofidentil), formallon.

Aeslhl"lic p",clict'S have always insisted on an t'Ssential t'Xtralt'rrilorialily. and

on t he ulop;an notion ofa un iVl:rs>llubjK1. Or I h.,- haVl' insisted on lhe 'emt.,.

ri:llilY mlhel, proper ttws and colwemlolll. as much as on Ihe n and.il.rd$ of their

h i ~ l o r i r n l installli;ulons as lilt' solely valuable nonnallw or romp,natlVl' )cogllint:l·

lions. This is h e ~ yt'l anollM'r p;t .. dox opens up : 1M vt'ry ronvt'nllonalilY of

3nillic boguage < I and aesthellc a n d a r d i : would M inu'eJ.'eiy bound up

wilh Ilw: JubjK :'J fomt:llion within lhe coordln;ues of a l i o ~ a t ~ c u l t u ~This fundamt'ntal dualily - o f i m u h a n ~ l y rorrobo .. itlJ and dillodging

I r o n " " n l i o n ~ or id/:nlil)' furmal lon_ongin:tllng in CUlt and sUI applid all

Ihe mol ' 10 Ihe moment;n whkh emerging <'I;Vnomkand ll'ChnolQgical onIrl'

p r o v i ~ lhe l>rimary p.1ramelers of I,", lubjec1 '1currenl cOnstilUlion. offeringa

C'Umpc'Uing)YI myth":al and idl'Ologinl deception f l h ~ $ubj«1 's pn'Sullwd tran·

~ n d e n c e Of lhe nalion's tmitional paramelers. JU51 <IS the enlfrging economic

and lochnolusical "'lJiml"l p r o m l ~ a InlQo glob;Jllud cullu ... and a final dlU(llu·

lion ofthe nation's falal bonds. wlw:n {he cuncepr. of nation-naIl'~ n t i t y

iuelf isbeing displace< b)o t'C'Onomic and t ~ h n o l o g i o l orden of ~ l u l o n . Ihe ques

lion roncrmill$ It... IilnnionJ of Ihe aesl helk within tlw: dialN'l ioc Ofido nllfin ·

lion becomeJ ailihe mOl ' IIlit'm. The IW W orders St"tm 10 imblle the idrology of

Ihe nalton 'Slat<' with mythical ~ ~ U i V l pOWe". simib,lO IhO ie 11\;11 religion

mighl ha .... had allhe nlOn.ent Ofill di»olulion . When u ComCf locultu .. lp .....

duction .....tiolHlille identilil'S now It:lVl' 10 be acknowledl l'd at a e D l or deter-

mirt.allon_aI3precondllion fur any conSlruction ofa m ....n'unk dimrnslun In

lhe worlr ofa . _tlt:ll h.1ltO be overcome In o rdrr lu anirulate lhe llKI'Hity ofan

;u'S1oolc IrarugTHSion of all t'Xlemal condillonl ofuv.-rdelt'mlln:tllon.

Wha, make< Iht' a .1 ><-11, an inlt'gml l e m ~ n I wilhin thll'SC' d ~ b . : o t " " IJ mainly

ilt ; . i d e n l l f i c ~ O I } functions wilhin I he foret' field of d e n l i l a r i ~ n cbiml. As

religious conlinilSions since Iht' Re lUlH.lJlC t' had alw:t) l bt-en IUrpaSIN b)o Ihdr

jUlnt .. rly .-o ......ption ~ n d rx<'Clllion as primaril), ", 'Ving th .. jUrameter$ of " ' "Ihelic ambilion. so wn-e Iht' benevolent or impetioul boundaries r l ) ; l t i o l H l ~ t ~",ltu,.., t 'pa ' >N b)o artillk p r . > C ' I i c ~ In pIlI'lUi t M thci r prim.,f')' a .. lIC'cic

dt:l.lltngt'i f u r t ' x . a m p Ihe oonllruclioo of a p e r s p K 1 i v ')"Ilem. Ihe applin.

, i of m ; f i ~ I hrury of -olor In p.:timing. or Ihe prog:r:lmnutic reveLllion of

tht' unconscious work. 10 name bullhref' major n 5 t ~ n c e s from Ihe immen ,

KOI'" of Wttt m painting). even If h ~ . . , ch.1 llengu ",,,,re al allll .. rNI'1)aC'

li""l), honored and ofJid;aliy , b imed by Ihe poIitiul pOwen of ile \ S t ~ las Ilw:ir ~ progeny (a5lQlian RmainallCf painling• u f rench ImpreJSionism

Or French Surreali'ml. U mt' principle mighl w ~ 1 I be 31 work in Ihe pre ,nl

.1.... ion. h ~ n . h ~ gJoba] 'P i:.:n '' ' of dcn.hir< 1>:0, ma<Ie . be prindp'''' of

ndl.,ng<' ''''hlf surpluJ .... Iul' muimizalion the rule ;}C'«If'[jlllllO ....hkh w -

jecu are colll'Cfi, ..ly ronsmKtM. PerpelUo1.lIy oscillalingbetween a mobiliz.:tlion



..~ W n ,.... ' ....... , ...._ ,. . ] . & (M-II . . . . . . .'.._ _

' ' ' ' ' ' ' c : o J I

G.l1o<IoI 0n>I:< .. - .od..... Jo>'.f cu..I.o. _'W7 en , ,, . kw., c - . . .......... _ liltI ' ' " 5 " ', 1>1-" 11 ,7 ' _1 1- ~ I I r..,...,...'50' ' ' ' ' ) 1 ft . . . . . . . . . ,.. . .. .)

_ I' _ .. An

-, - '" ' ' ....... - . ...

O b l o l ~ c ~ n c t of earl

f o r m ~ ' l o n l 3 n d manifrn di

of. if nol oUlrighl 01'1

.lIion II>. , h .. 1I..", ly .. rgi

principles of n f l J r c t d Id"n

fiullon . Oro lCO 'S work pil

ou, ill refnencello mylh ~nalional id'c"nlily a g ~ i n j l I

del lll;OIu of the .lob;)liu'Cl SI

jecl, p<'rfurming I n«es>'l

qm. m and romnlalions ofth

I d C ' O l o g k con ruclions o

n ... global l I b j « t i v i l y .An n a m p l ~ of a wo r k

whkh bulh OroKO', konog

phy alld h i ~ ,,):lltrial pr.:o",dun

of ~ = l 1 o n mal< ,' Ihl''>' h l ~ l l J r K a l l J p J l O 5 i u o n . nl lJ.t ....id'ml Iii 6lcIrir ki,..,. fro

'997. a human ,kuli rov . "<.1 in an inl ric:lle j;r.Iphile chl'Cktrbooni. The work

ItnK1ulOll opp<.>SlIi<.>n ~ n n.1ture and cullure finds its correl'l1i>'t in the opp

Jilion t - t _ ~ n III,' Wt'mingly immulable Medan iconognphy oflhe skull la

dealhod.;:'V1}(l'<l n ~ ali apparenlly found.J.tioll.ll t le 'tm ) f ' ~ k > x i c ; l n ,llu

from archaic ril 10 Ihe Wl>rks of O C G U ' l f : b l u ~ l'ola<b) and Illc I)' ~ i f ialrn.bl lechnological inKripi o n ~ On Ih . .kull 's surface by a c.a.., fully .appl

h i l ~ , i n g wh lJw C O m p l } l i l i o n ~ 1 onltr iilglUlslh . KWnllfH; dime nsk

of rug" ;' i>'t and rt'ffl:'p1Ual mapl,;ng in r<"CellI I,ai IIled}' pracllce. of b i l ltlon (5uch ;tilhe ~ g ~ c i of 8ridgel Rill')'l. HiStoric imny has it Ihallen } N

la l .. Bri , i.h an i>l l ) ~ m i r n Him w"ukl p i ~ k "1' on o.vzc,,·s un('anny o;< 1 '<1l

of ; human skull a t a sculp'u '\' ",il lI his work r1ll' I"" LoI't' ofGod IZ0011-a sk

'lW3 l l1ed III diamondS-ll>ough il is In th .. diffCTl'Tl liation botwa''' tho: tWl> ... rIhal I ~ hi>lorical and I hl'Oll.'lical dlw'lIencn M'COme mOil apparent . Orozc

return 10 one ofthl:' foundational- kons of his nalional ident ity ntablish

t hc 1\111 :;cope of I c<,mtr.ldkt;ons I Ihe f n n n ~ l of any id,'nl ily n n l ~~ m a n d s . including Ihe n t ~ l i o n wilh systems of unconsdoul determi

lioo and conlrol. ~ n d K hcn1l's of pollli .. . idt'C>logiol.alld ecunomic inl('R' i1 dgulSl:'d a l l ~ "1kIIunl" o o , b l i u n ~ of subjKtlVily. rllese natural " foulld.1lions

tilt Mlbji'Ct al't U,lIlsande1l in Ihe u b j e c r 5 an. of litq;ui ilk and rommuniGIli

an icuLalions wilhln spedHc opf'r.1.I1\'t prac cn. such aSlhl:' ab5lran l ~ n l f 'ric dr.lwing a f ognil'''' ' ~ p p i n g of lh . .k"ll. Th,,, I he 'pl:'<ific'h y of Ih" loc

I't'gional, and nalional g r ~ p h ) ' oprr.nes as a mnemonic regine ' in Ornzc

W l > r 0 artkuble I t\., complex proCl'U of Ubjl'('\ formal;on a. Ol1e of in .....itab

originaling. yel 11 t.'«'Stolri ly beinJl emancip;l1ed from, all fannl of mythical mb.

lion. 8)' ronlr.lSI. Hir.,,· mode l. particularly in il' f ~ l s e claim 10 h.ll't' ,1 Il'gltim

basi. 10 cil,· Ihe U C I",dilion of rncru.lillt: skulls wil h pr<"Ci<l>US I O f l ( ' ~ d('

ers Ihe 51riking ~ d m e ofa Ilnlversal 'IOIudulence (ac IICll(':111y called "kll.sc

in I",dilional p.arlancl:'l in p

ICI1dmll lhal 'mbj("C:hvily wo

now in r ~ C I ~ udu.lil'tlyro

sl ilU,ed ill Ih" n.'Shlen ofsy

bulie Ilgn uctLangl:' Y,llue a

JU'l'h'J ....111" maxin"Llnon

Orozco', di:llrcliCl.1 melh

of umuhanl'Ously n ~ g ~ l i ni o n · S 1 a l r - b a l e d m } ' l h

I ~ n t l ~ n d 3 m Y t h ~ I I I I OUn",enlllil), has h o . ~ o n l t . ' ob

ous once i l a i n in rece

Jt'riN of SCUlplUI'\'I. i b l lin Mexico In tile 'pri ng

lOO9. made from n.llIur.l.l va

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BUCHLOCH-On Gabriel Orozco