La Panadería: 1994-2002

Book Synopsis: Throughout eight years of existence, La Panadería served Mexico City as a vibrant non-profit space for exhibitions, residencies, and cultural events involving local and international artists. This retrospective catalogue exists as a collective testimony on the artistic productions and exhibitions that resulted from the space, which was founded in 1994 in a former bakery by local artists Yoshua Okon and Miguel Calderón. La Panadería emphasized, by way of its inherent nature, the integration of eclectic marginal practices. Young artists were invited to exhibit video, photography, installation, and performance-based works, but the space was also characterized by parties and concerts, reflecting a lifestyle and a social dynamic that opposed a rigid set of paradigms which dictated how art should be. La Panadería: 1994-2002 is a visual and theoretical digest representative of the national and international art scene, presenting a selection of 60 exhibitions by foreign and Mexican contemporary artists via photographic documentation, a brief descriptive text, and ephemera such as invitations. Six critical texts consider the relevance of the space, while anecdotes from artists and the visiting public pay testimony to it. Dozens of artists are represented here, including Carlos Amorales, Chris Johanson, Emily Jacir, Francis Alÿs, Gelatin, Kirsten Stoltmann, Las ultrasónicas, Luis Felipe Ortega, Miguel Calderón, Minerva Cuevas, Semefo, Shepard Fairey and Uri Tzaig. The book is accompanied by a CD with music by Silverio.