Birthmark

Frontviews, in collaboration with OJO MX ARTE (Mexico City) and Noysky Projects (Los Angeles), presents Birthmark, a multidisciplinary exhibition exploring identity through the lenses of family, society, and culture. The exhibition is part of B-LA-M, a three-year global art exchange involving 54 artist-run spaces spanning multiple continents.

Birthmark showcases works by artists from Mexico, Germany, United States, and Belarus, whose personal narratives are as diverse as their work. Their projects delve into familial histories and societal struggles, offering insights unique to each individual yet resonating within larger cultural contexts.

Several of the works in Birthmark are worn like badges of honor, symbolizing inherited legacies or birthrights that wield power. Others present identities matter-of-factly — neither inherently good nor bad but undeniably significant. Still, some reveal identities through poignant narratives and internal conflicts, unveiling complex histories.

Examples of the exhibited works include: a photographic triptych by Beatriz Sokol, which delves into her Jewish ancestry; a dyed canvas banner by Sean Noyce, exploring familial folk magic in the Old West; a mixed media painting by Carsten Becker, delving into transgenerational trauma; a „tourist” zine by Alberto Rodríguez, drawing parallels between gentrification in Berlin and Mexico City; suspended soft sculptures by Katya Usvitsky, fostering a dialogue between bodily replication and regeneration; a photograph by Sandra Ratkovic, exploring the textures of the urban landscape; and a sculpture by Aline Schwörer, questioning the interplay between space, time, and individual.

As we peel away the identifying features in Birthmark, commonalities emerge within these works, pointing to a shared human experience transcending geographical and temporal boundaries. Their narratives reflect an ongoing evolution in communication between the individual and the community.

Sean Noyce