anonymous gallery’s inaugural exhibition in Mexico City reflected the gallery’s current and future program. Fresh Kills served as a small survey of 9 important artists that have lived and worked in New York City and that are actively influenced by their surroundings, use materials’ specific to the region, and who have directly transformed the landscape of one of the world’s most dynamic cities.

The selected artists aptly apply resources that most would see as refuse or appropriation but contextualize those items in their artwork, giving it a completely new vitality and aesthetic verbalization. With demystifying visuals, materials are treated with subversion, where process and application are placed in the same framework, giving each object cultural signification. Ideas of perception are evaluated through development as the dematerialization of the trivial is transformed into symbol – art.

For over 60 years the 2,200 acres known as Fresh Kills Landfill was where 650 tons of garbage was added each day. Now a multi-phase, 30 year, site development for the refuse will become Fresh Kills Park. At almost three times the size of Central Park it will the largest park developed in New York City in over 100 years. The transformation of what was formerly the world’s largest landfill into a productive and beautiful cultural destination is described as “a symbol of renewal and an expression of how our society can restore balance to its landscape.”

The exhibition Fresh Kills was inspired not only by artists that come before this group such as Gordon Matta Clarke and Sherrie Levine, but also Mexican contemporaries such as Teresa Margolles, Damian Ortega, Dr. Lakra, and Gabriel Orozco who have been inspired to use materials that reflect their culture, environment and times.

These artists: Richard Prince, Tom Sachs, Aaron Young, Agathe Snow, Hanna Liden, Swoon, Barry McGee, David Ellis, and Greg Lamarche on different levels and in different ways, directly give their art and the culture of New York City the same contextualization – through process, presentation, perspectives, character and relevance – RENEWAL!

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:  

Aaron Young , Agathe Snow , Barry McGee , David Ellis , Greg Lamarche , Hanna Liden , Richard Prince , Swoon , Tom Sachs .