Opening show of a new art residency

On the occasion of their inauguration, El Sur invite you to the exhibitions of their first group of residents: Paul Lahana, Stacey Lawrence, Teauma Richard and Chloé Tournoux

El Sur is an artist-run art residency in Mexico City. Although their main focus is to offer artists a calm space to live and create new works of art, they also encourage residents to connect with other members of Mexico City’s thriving art scene. They promote a dialogue and exchange of ideas between residents as well as with the local community by arranging weekly meetings, open studios and visits to galleries and exhibitions. 

The house and studios, surrounded by beautiful gardens, make this residency the perfect place to focus and create a body of work in a quiet atmosphere. This program is ideal for artists who wish to retreat into their artistic practice while staying close enough to enjoy Mexico City’s dynamic art scene.

Paul Lahana

What have I done?

What have I done today? What have I done this whole time? 

Is this about lines on maps? Or about connecting dots? Is this about pointing things? Or about making point?

Two hours since I woke up and what have I done?  Three weeks since I got there and what have I done?

Is this about signing drawings ? Or about drawing signs? Is this about telling stories ? Or about storing tells?

Do I even know ? Am I supposed to know?

What have you done ? Do I know?

Stacey Lawrence

Shaped by an accumulation of various materials and objects collected during my stay in Mexico City, this collection of work is influenced by the market, street and culture. I have meshed architectural elements, toys, souvenirs, artisan crafts, and religious motifs with my own artistic direction to create an alternative perspective on common visions. I have taken the liberty to ‘rewrite the story’, to reconsider things as they exist, adding both drama and fiction; intertwining personal narratives with reimagined spaces and places through painting, collages and assemblages.

Teauma Richard

Because we are all humans, I do believe there is some kind of elusive truth, a special way to say things that transcend subjectivity, that resonate with that "human condition". I don't believe that anyone has or ever will touch that truth, at best some came close to it. I'm not convinced I did, but I certainly tried. It is, after all, a tricky quest. There are some easy ways to attempt it though, which I didn't shy away from. Some founding myths, as inherently cultural as they are, such as the story of Prometheus or the fall of Eden, might be a straightforward approach to that human condition and the nature of civilization. Sure, let's get there. What about the general sense of loneliness that comes from being surrounded by many, all striving for something, feeling like no one hears what you want to say, which might be close to nothing? Let's get there. Everyone is last in the race. Cool. There are trees and stuff. Nice. A robot is trying to express something. There are vague fragments of ideas. Ah! There you are. OK then, see you later. 

Chloé Tournoux

If the world is color and if I assume that color is magic, then is the world magic ? That was the first step of my reflection. This exhibition presents a group of photographs, books and displays about this question. In between sculpture and representation, the comings and goings between the different elements of the exhibition weave a narrative built on things and their appearances.

Some of the artworks I will present in the exhibition are Flying saucer (1, 2), and Where it comes from, then maybe learn Some knowledge as Another string theory or How to straighten a string. You may also see some colors, such as Light brown, brown, dark brown or a Green scale and have fun Making art a game again. Then, you will connect with your deep emotions by playing at Happy / not happy... And so much more!