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Gabriel Orozco
Cemetery #1

Gabriel Orozco comments: “In the exhibition [Documenta 11, Kassel, 2002], I tried to connect with the photographs I took in Mali in July. I traveled to Mali for three weeks and took some photographs related to my work. They are very different, but there are links to the graveyard of Timbuktu, which I discovered during the trip. I found the cemetery because I was interested in pottery and ceramics. Research traditions of ceramics were the reason for my trip to Africa in Mali, to understand, learn, appreciate what they did, because it is an important tradition in Mali. And then I discovered the cemetery in Timbuktu. It is interesting to see how the work will take you to discover places you would never have discovered if you did not work. So the link between what you do and what you find a second time is very interesting. In this context, the exhibition presents one hand tables with ceramics. In addition, photographs of Mali are on the walls. There is no direct link. But it is obvious that the same person who is interested in these things. And there are many reasons for this.”

Gabriel Orozco is known for his nomadic approach to art-making, working without a fixed studio and drawing inspiration from the various contexts he encounters during his travels. Orozco is the son of muralist Mario Orozco Rivera, and his work often reflects a questioning of artistic identity within the Mexican cultural landscape. Orozco's practice is characterized by his use of ‘poor’ materials and objects found in everyday environments, whether natural or urban. Through division, juxtaposition, or collage, he creates surprising, often humorous, and sometimes lyrical scenarios that challenge conventional perceptions. His sculptural practice is intricately connected with his drawings, photographs, and films, all of which explore relationships of space and disrupt our understanding of objects. Orozco's work flows seamlessly across different mediums, making him one of the most innovative and influential artists in contemporary art, celebrated for his ability to find poetry in the mundane.