The Brownsville Museum of Fine Art in partnership with the Mexican Consulate in Brownsville invite the community to see the work of artist Mauricio Silerio in the new exhibit “Music Box.”
The new exhibit will run until the end of March and are digital images that combine different techniques to create surreal art inspired by ballerina music boxes.
“The most important element of this exhibit are the ballerinas,” Silerio said. “Even though they are not on focus on some of the pieces, they are the element putting all the images together. The images are showing an idea or feeling. Some of them portray an anecdote the ballerinas told me, or a moment they experienced. So, I interpreted that in some of these images.”
The ballerinas on his work are from several countries throughout the world such as Brazil, Italy and Russia. Silerio has exhibited pieces in more than 20 countries including Italy, Spain, Canada, South Korea and United Arab Emirates.
“These are fresh, creative and attractive pieces for all ages,” Mexican Consul Juan Carlos Cue Vega said. “They are colorful and I think that Mauricio belongs to a generation that rescues cultural, maybe not forgotten but lost, pieces among all national imagination.”
The consul said they want to continue supporting Mexican artists and help them exhibit their work at the museum but given the pandemic it is more complicated. He added he is very grateful with the museum for continuing this partnership that supports Mexican artists.
“We want to continue supporting the Mexican artists. However, we have to recognize that these are complicated times where the priorities of donors and art lovers are somewhere else,” he said.
“That’s why partnerships like this one are greatly appreciated because without the support and partnership that we have with the Museum of Fine Art it would be extremely hard.”
Cue Vega said art throughout Mexico varies and it may be different to appreciate some art at the border than at the center of the country. He said all art is equally attractive even if it’s different.
“At the border it’s very clear that the bailes Tamaulipecos, the typical costumes, the literature are all an indication of the creativity in this area,” he said. “But if we to the center or south of the country, we can find food, paintings, handicrafts, ceramics and architecture with different characteristics but equally attractive.”
Deyanira Ramirez, executive director at the museum, said given the area it is important for the museum to support both American and Mexican artists.
“Given the location of the museum, just at the border with Mexico, it’s part of our mission to educate the community that surrounds us, and that includes both countries,” she said.
“That’s why it’s important for the museum to share our spaces giving the opportunity for Mexican artists to exhibit with us, like we’ve been doing for years.”
Ramirez said she invites the community to continue to support the arts while taking the necessary precautions to stay safe amid the pandemic.
“The best message we can give the community is to continue supporting the arts,” she said. “All the effort that we do for presenting different exhibits is worth is when we see our community appreciating and supporting it.”
For more information about the art, visit mauriciosilerioart on Instagram or “Mauricio Silerio” on Facebook.
