Naomi Rincón Gallardo: Sonnet of Vermin
Creatures of Mesoamerican folklore form a surreal choir calling for an end to colonial violence and exploitation in Mexican artist Naomi Rincón Gallardo’s work.
In her films, Naomi Rincón Gallardo creates dreamlike ‘counter-worlds’ that address how colonialism continues to infect social, political and environmental settings.
Sonnet of Vermin (2022) follows a group of animals related to Mesoamerican myths – Bat, Snake, Scorpion and a choir of frogs – as they traverse dystopian landscapes in Oaxaca.
Communicating through radio signals, these unwanted creatures of the underworld attempt to synchronise with one another and the dead. Broadcasting from reclaimed ruins, the singing vermin call for solidarity and community in the midst of social, political and ecological devastation.
Rincón Gallardo weaves cuir/queer forms of resistance, pre-colonial folklore, DIY aesthetics, music, dance and humour to create surreal narratives that criticise the prevalence of violence and exploitation in the region.
Naomi Rincón Gallardo lives and works between Mexico City and Oaxaca. She works across video, performance, drawing and sculpture.
Recent exhibitions include Momenta Biennale de l’Image, Montreal, 2023; the 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, 2022; the 34th Bienal de São Paulo, 2021; the 11 Berlin Biennale, 2020; and Museo Experimental El Eco, Mexico City, 2019. This is her first solo exhibition in London.
Presented with support from the RC Foundation, Taiwan (R.O.C.).
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Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
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Sun, 10am – 6pm
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This event is held at the Hayward Gallery Southbank Centre
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