Graphic Design from Mexico Exhibition Celebrates Cultural Impact and Innovation
A new exhibition titled Eso es la vida/This is life: Graphic Design from Mexico is currently being showcased at The Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center. The exhibition, which opened on August 12 and runs until November 27, explores the rich history and cultural significance of graphic design in Mexico. From the early 20th century to the present day, graphic design has played a pivotal role in Mexican society, both as a means of communication and as a medium for artistic expression.
The exhibition begins with the emergence of popular print and the penny press, which gained prominence through the political illustrations of lithographer José Guadalupe Posada during the Mexican Revolution. It showcases a wide range of graphic design elements such as posters, typography, sign painting, and video and digital media. The featured designers include renowned figures like Posada and Taller de Gráfica Popular, as well as contemporary practitioners such as Estudio Herrera and Red de Reproducción y Distribución.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is a replica of the newsstand created by Red de Reproducción y Distribución, a collective of graphic designers based in Mexico City. The collective focuses on producing magazines that cover various subjects, including art history, architecture, and gender issues, rather than engaging in the distribution of violence or gossip magazines. Their newsstand serves as a public sculpture, showcasing their works and collaborating with other artists in the city.
Robert J Kett, the curator of the exhibition and an assistant professor at the Design Anthropology at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, emphasizes the exhibition’s aim to present a comprehensive overview of Mexican graphic design. Kett explores how graphic design intersects with youth culture, fashion, and social movements, highlighting Mexico as an international center for art and design. The exhibition challenges traditional notions of graphic design by showcasing its role in social actions, rather than focusing solely on branding or corporate designs.
One iconic example of Mexican graphic design featured in the exhibition is the logo for the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Designed collaboratively by Mexican architect Pedro Ramirez Vazquez, American graphic designer Lance Wyman, and Eduardo Terrazas, President of the Organizing Committee for the Games, the logo integrates patterns inspired by the Huichol, an indigenous people of Mexico. The logo’s significance extends beyond its initial purpose, as it has been repurposed and appropriated within protest movements and sign painting, continuing to inspire local designers to this day.
The exhibition does not aim to provide definitive narratives about the role of graphic design in Mexico but instead seeks to spark conversations about its presence in public spaces, political dialogues, and Mexican culture at large. It encourages viewers to view graphic design as an integral part of everyday cultural life and to reevaluate its impact beyond European and American contexts. By understanding how graphic design is used in dialogue with local needs, perspectives, and aspirations, the exhibition aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse within the field of design.
The Eso es la vida/This is life: Graphic Design from Mexico exhibition offers a unique opportunity to delve into the vibrant world of Mexican graphic design, celebrating its cultural impact and innovation. Through a diverse range of artworks and mediums, visitors can explore the rich historical legacy of Mexican graphic design and its ever-evolving influence on contemporary artistic practices.
Where: Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, 300 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
For more information: psmuseum.org/visit/psam-a-and-d-center
Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment for the Desert Sun. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye.
