Artist
Matthias Goeritz (Mexican, born Germany, 1915–1990)Mexican, born Germany, 1915–1990
CultureMexican
Titles
- Mensaje
Date1958–1962
MediumHammered brass and iron nails on board
Dimensions48 1/4 × 24 × 1 in. (122.6 × 61 × 2.5 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the 2019 Latin American Experience Gala and Auction
Object number2020.138
Current Location
The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Gallery 205
On view
Explore Further
Department
Latin American ArtObject Type
smooth and jagged surfaces with nails hammered through metal sheets and industrial
debris collected from Mexican shantytowns, Mensaje
encapsulates Goeritz’s desire to produce a spiritual experience through art. He
arrived at this experience through a reiterative, performative process. Mensaje is also shaped by Goeritz’s
interest in religious art and resistance to the artworld’s aesthetic decadence.
Like Elsa Gramcko’s animistic paintings, the series demonstrates an interest in
endowing industrial debris with life.
ProvenanceThe artist; Héctor Azar, Mexico City, 1962; by inheritance to Sara Stieglitz; [Henrique Faria Fine Art, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 2020.
Exhibition HistoryHenrique Faria Fine Art, New York, 2019.
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.
Antonio Berni
c. 1964
Polymateric construction composed of wood, cardboard, plastic, roots, nails, enamel, and metals including steel, iron, and aluminum bottle caps
2004.1536
Luis Camnitzer
1987
.A: Porcelain, stainless steel, unknown casting resin, unknown dye, silicone adhesive, wood, brass.
B: Engraved brass, two brass-headed picture hanging nails
2016.102.A,.B
