» Time Toxico Cultura

Jan 07 2010

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Random Intoxicants, TÃ³xico Texts, Work from Mexico

A MAN NOT ESCAPED

Cooking Grill No. 1

Cooking Grill No.2

Glass, plate, spoon

Weapons

Weapons made with the border of windows

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A few days ago we watched A Man Escaped, by Robert Bresson: a film–based on a true story– that recounts a man’s escape from prison by turning ordinary and seemingly innocent objects into his means to freedom: that turning something into something else.

As the movie ended, I remembered an incredible project by ToÃ±o Vega Macotela, wonderful Mexican artist. I also remembered the day I accompanied him to one of Mexico City’s largest prisons, to help him take the pictures you see above. Ah. SÃ. That turning something into something else. Not for escape: but for life inside jail. These objects you see in the images above where constructed (illegally of course) by the prisoners.

After the break you can read an interview that I did with ToÃ±o for Vice Magazine. where you will find a fuller description of his incredible project.

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Tagged Antonio Vega Macotela, Contemporary Art, Gabriella GÃ³mez-Mont, Mexico, Photography, Prison, Time

Sep 03 2009

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Random Intoxicants

ROBERT FRANK’S ELEVATOR GIRL, 50 YEARS LATER

Jack Kerouac wrote an introduction to The Americans, Frank’s legendary book. (“That little ole lonely elevator girl looking up sighing in an elevator full of blurred demons, what’s her name and address?”)

50 years later a woman walks into an exhibition and is completely surprised to find herself staring at her 50-years-younger face. Yes, it was her, elevator girl, with a name and an address and even a few blurred demons still walking besides her, probably.

She remembers those times, working the elevator of a Miami Beach Hotel. But she does not remember Frank: “Tourists where always taking pictures of me”, she says. And seÃ±or Robert Frank was just another one of them.

(Listen to an interview with her here.)

(Via Lens Culture.)