LACMA

Art of the Americas, Level 4: Artworks on view

A rich array of objects from the major civilizations of ancient Mexico constitute the heart of the collection. Recently reinstalled in bold new galleries designed by the contemporary artist Jorge Pardo, the collection features ceramic funerary offerings from the West Mexican states of Nayarit, Colima, and Jalisco, exquisite jade figures produced by Olmec artists on the Gulf Coast, and textiles and ceramics from the ancient kingdoms of Peru.

Mexico, Jalisco

A Tour with the Director

July 14, 2009

. . . As we left the Director’s Lounge and headed up to our first stop at the pre-Columbian galleries, the relationship between, and relevance to, ancient art and the future was immediately clear in Jorge Pardo’s installation design for the Art of the Ancient Americas galleries. Michael pointed out his favorites, like one of the smiling figures, and added another interesting layer—many objects in LACMA’s collection are meant to be used. Of course, the most obvious examples of integrating art into everyday life can be found in the museum’s decorative arts and design collection, but there’s also drinking vessels, plates, hunting spears, and even a child’s toy represented in the pre-Columbian galleries . . .

Jorge Pardo on the Pre-Columbian Galleries

November 17, 2008

Earlier this month Michael Govan sat down with Jorge Pardo as part of the Directors Series. Along with a discussion of some of Pardo’s seminal works, the two discussed Pardo’s design for LACMA’s pre-Columbian galleries, which debuted in September to some debate. They’re certainly unique—the bright colors, the curtains (one audience member at the talk called them “oppressive”), and of course the undulating cabinetry. Among the questions raised is, simply, why? Why display them like this? Why not stick to a simple, unadorned pedestal or display case? Govan and Pardo got into this in their hour-long discussion, which you can watch in its entirety. Just to give you a sample, here they discuss Pardo’s installation design for a Donald Judd exhibition at the Caixa museum in Spain—another controversial exhibition design that raised many of the same questions as our pre-Columbian galleries . . .