Álvaro Urbano Honors the Lost Specimens of Mexico City’s Iconic Casa Cueva
Álvaro Urbano presents an homage to the innovations of Casa Cueva, an icon of modernist Mexican architecture. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Álvaro Urbano Honors the Lost Specimens of Mexico City’s Iconic Casa Cueva appeared first on Colossal .
In the Pedregal de San Ángel region of Mexico City, nestled within a natural lava cave, once stood the modernist Mexican residence known as Casa Cueva. Designed in 1954 by architect Juan and artist Helen Fowler O’Gorman, the home was eventually demolished after they sold it in 1969. Today, at Museo Jumex, artist Álvaro Urbano pays tribute to the innovative design of Casa Cueva, focusing on the gardens and the lasting legacy of Helen, particularly her 1961 book Mexican Flowering Trees and Plants.
The book, penned and illustrated during her time at Casa Cueva, meticulously documented the native flora of the region. Inspired by these botanical illustrations, Urbano has created a new series of metal sculptures for his solo exhibition, titled Helen, currently on display at Museo Jumex. The exhibition features floating, painted plant sculptures suspended against a translucent curtain, creating an ethereal and dreamlike atmosphere.
Each sculpture is a direct interpretation of a plant species featured in Helen’s book, and a site-specific installation showcases a variety of stone paving patterns. The exhibition, which runs through February 7, organically blends elements of space, plants, and the viewers, creating a cohesive and immersive experience. To learn more about Urbano’s work, follow him on Instagram.
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