Gabriel Orozco

Columpio

Columpio connects the photographs Gabriel Orozco took during a three-week trip to Mali in July 2002 with the artist’s ongoing interest in ceramics and pottery. Although this and other photographs in the series are distinct, they share a connection to a Timbuktu graveyard, which Orozco discovered during his research into the Malian pottery traditions that initially motivated his trip. Orozco emphasizes that his work often leads him to unexpected discoveries, such as the cemetery, which he might not have encountered otherwise. This process of uncovering new connections through his artistic practice fascinates him, highlighting the interplay between his creative exploration and the findings it generates. Presented for Documenta 11 (2002), Orozco arranged a selection of the photographs taken in Mali alongside a display table of ceramics. While there is no explicit correlation between the photographs and ceramics, they exemplify the same interests and curiosities that drive Orozcvo’s work. Orozco’s work often explores the boundaries between everyday objects and art, encouraging deeper reflection on how we interact with our surroundings and the latent possibilities within ordinary items.