Zona Maco turns Mexico into the epicenter of international art

The largest art fair in Latin America returns at a time of boom for Latin American artistic production and with more space for the work of women and emerging artists
Mexico City will be the epicenter of international art starting next week. Galleries and artists from four continents will meet in the great city at the largest art fair in Latin America: Zona Maco. The event also takes place at a golden moment for artistic production in the region, whose market is fully recovering after the Covid-19 earthquake. “When we returned to the physical, we did so with a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm, because there has been a lot of public wanting to have that direct contact with the works, with the artists and gallery owners. In these last two editions, that enthusiasm persists,” explains Direlia Lazo, artistic director of the fair.

Zona Maco is the bridge that brings together the best of Latin American art, from Mexico to Brazil, with the innovations that will mark artistic trends in the coming year. Between February 5 and 9 is the opportune moment to learn about the movements that mark the pace in contemporary art, because the fair brings together 199 galleries that present the talent of hundreds of artists. In this edition there are 39 new galleries participating, which in the words of Lazo shows how Zona Maco has established itself as the great art event in the region.

In the last edition, more than 80,000 people strolled through the illuminated labyrinths of the fair, a labyrinth of works of art. “We have noticed a lot of international interest and in this edition we have participation from four continents, Africa, Asia, Europe and America, of course. I have noticed many galleries paying more attention to Latin American artists and taking advantage of the moment of the fair to make that showcase. And I feel that this is also like an interesting turn, because it puts Latin American art back at the center of the conversation,” says the director.
Zona Maco is a luxury showcase, the place where anyone who wants to make themselves known in the art world should be. This year, three residency awards will be given to artists, one for women and one for emerging creators. The aim is to give them a period to develop their creativity. “It is a platform for visibility, but also for conversation, where artists not only show their work, but can also make relationships and take these links a little further,” explains Lazo.

The fair, of course, is also an important business, in which millions of dollars move thanks to the art trade. This year it is taking place at a time of boiling art in Latin America, something like a golden age. “It is an incredible moment. I feel that the change has been very visible in recent years, it seems to me that we are living a great cycle. Not only in the presentation and projection of Latin American art in the most international museum circuit, in biennials and so on. Also in exhibitions, in galleries, with Latin American artists being represented in many parts of the world. The truth is that it is a great moment and the attention is focused on Latin America. I think that if everything continues at the same pace, I feel that this cycle will continue to prolong itself, because we are a region that has many mini regions within itself, so the exploration is almost infinite,” says Lazo.

The series is divided into sections: Zona Maco Sur, which seeks to expand the view of art towards other regions of the global south; Zona Maco Arte Moderno, which exhibits historical pieces belonging to the modern art movements of the 20th century; and Zona Maco Ejes, which presents artists whose works investigate the connections between art and freedom. “The curators ask the galleries for proposals from artists and this greatly enriches the dialogue, since it is not only what the gallery thinks will position it best in the market, but it is also supported by curatorial work. It is a space for discovery, especially the ejes section, curated by Bernardo Mosqueira, which is a section focused on young projects, hybrid spaces,” says the director.

Lazo notes that Zona Maco “starts a bit of a conversation on the continent” about what is going to happen with art, all the trends that will have an impact on the art world. The fair also works with the broad spectrum of museums in Mexico City, which during the so-called Art Week also offer new exhibitions or expand their cultural offerings. “Every year more spaces from Mexico City join. This year we have a very broad participation and that is something that is good for the audiences, because other things are happening in the city and that attracts a lot of public,” explains the expert in contemporary art of Cuban origin. “It is an effervescence,” she adds, the high point of a capital that for a week becomes the epicenter of international art.
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