Arturo Hernández Alcázar: Blind Horizon

Underneath the Arches is pleased to announce its first exhibition Blind Horizon, by Arturo Hernández Alcázar. Curated by Chiara Pirozzi and Alessandra Troncone, and in collaboration with Associazione VerginiSanità, the exhibition will take place at the archeological site holding the remains of the Acquedotto Augusteo del Serino in the area Borgo Vergini – Rione Sanità in Naples.

Arturo Hernández Alcázar’s works are the remains of actions developed in connection (but mainly in opposition) to the places and sites he relates to. Random walks, encounters, pick-ups and form associations in specific contexts, depict the traces of a constant collision of social dynamics against economical systems and the forced tension between existing balances and balances to be reinvented that emphasize the precariousness of the contemporary.

Blind Horizon follows a period of residency and research that Arturo Hernández Alcázar spent in Naples, exploring different areas of the city and its periphery. The artist shaped his research on suggestions from the geological and the archeological site, conceiving an installation that integrates intangible sources—like sound—with strong physical presences, reflecting on the ideas of control, manipulation of forces and power. The idea of horizon, outlined by the ancient aqueduct, is an example of human control over the territory, a loop process of construction and deconstruction, a layering materialization of the impact between natural and political history. Hernández Alcázar's site-specific work, rests on the idea of latent erosive forces that produce forms and relations.

Underneath the Arches at the Acquedotto Augusteo del Serino is a program that aims to activate a dialogue between archeology and contemporary art, and to establish a relationship between the local material and immaterial culture and the artistic research of international artists. Under the artistic direction of Chiara Pirozzi and Alessandra Troncone, its main objective is to promote both existing cultural heritage and new production in contemporary art. In the enchanting space of the ancient Roman aqueduct, discovered in 2011 and located underneath a historical building called Palazzo Peschici Maresca, owned by the Arciconfraternita dei Pellegrini, international artists are invited to create temporary and site-specific installations in dialogue with the space itself and the surrounding area. The archeological site is currently managed by Associazione VerginiSanità, in collaboration with the Fondazione Pellegrini.

Blind Horizon by Arturo Hernández Alcázar was created with the kind support of the Embassy of Mexico in Italy, Fondazione Salvatore, Ciro Oliva – Concettina ai Tre Santi and Associazione VerginiSanità, under the Matronage of Fondazione Donnaregina per le arti contemporanee of Naples, and under the patronage of the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples and IILA - Istituto Italo-Latino Americano in Rome. The artist’s residency is made possible by a collaboration with Fondazione Morra. A special thanks to Galería JosédelaFuente (Santander, Spain) and Marso Gallery (Mexico City) for their support.

Artist biography
Arturo Hernández Alcázar (Mexico City, 1978) has shown his work internationally, including the 5th Moscow Biennale, 2013; MUAC-UNAM, 2010; Museo Amparo, 2011; Museo de Arte Moderno México, 2011; Museo Arte Contemporáneo-Oaxaca 2014,2016; Casa del Lago, 2015; San Francisco Art Institute and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 2011; Musée d’Art Moderne of Paris, 2012; Centro Alcobendas 2015; Contemporary Art; SWAB Barcelona, 2015; Kunstraum München and Kunst Berlin-Bethanien (2016); Museo Experimental El Eco (2017) among others. His project Naked Building, commissioned by the Offentlichen raum NÖ was open to public in 2016. He works with Galería JosédelaFuente (Spain) and Galería Marso (Mexico City). He is also an independent editor (Antena Ediciones and GatoNegro).

Graphic Design: Valeria Miele & Marco Olivieri