SAN DIEGO, Calif. (October 2022) – The San Diego Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) are pleased to present internationally renowned artist Sergio Hernández as the featured speaker for the 22nd annual Axline Lecture on Monday, November 14, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. PST. This year’s Axline Lecture will be a hybrid event with a limited number of tickets available for in-person attendance, and additional tickets available for virtual viewing via Livestream. The Museum will also be featuring Sergio Hernández: Embers of Oaxaca, a dedicated exhibition with works by Sergio Hernández on view from November 12, 2022, through February 12, 2023.
Oaxacan-based Sergio Hernández is among Mexico’s leading contemporary artists. Focusing on the wonders of the natural world, including native species of southern Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, and constellations of the night sky, Hernández’s works of art and his use of local materials such as cochineal, the beetle-based red pigment known around the world as the “perfect” red, tie his art-making practice to important local and Indigenous traditions.
Hernández builds upon the traditions and imagery of fellow celebrated Oaxaqueños including Rufino Tamayo and Francisco Toledo, while also creating work that is wide-reaching in its global affinities. The parallels between Hernández’s art and that of historical and contemporary figures, including artists of the CoBrA movement in post-WWII Europe, Jean Dubuffet, or such Neo-Expressionists as Francesco Clemente or Jean-Michel Basquiat, are palpably observable. Emerging from this larger context, the work of Sergio Hernández enters a wider international dialogue with some of the key figures of twentieth-century artists on both sides of the Atlantic.
As part of the live lecture, the artist will be in conversation with Roxana Velásquez, Maruja Baldwin Executive Director and CEO at the Museum, to discuss underlying cultural themes and methods used in his work, along with insight into his upcoming exhibition – his first solo museum exhibition in the U.S. Their conversation in Spanish will be simultaneously translated into English.
Since 2000, The San Diego Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego have partnered to present the annual Axline Lecture in honor of Jackie and Rea Axline, long-time trustees and supporters of both museums who in 1999 bequeathed generous endowments to both institutions. Hosted in alternate years by each museum, this annual event offers an opportunity to thank current museum members, donors, and supporters.
Previous Axline Lectures have featured Madrid-based artist Ana de Alvear (2020); multidisciplinary artist Trevor Paglen (2019); contemporary artist Nancy Lorenz (2018); photographer Catherine Opie (2017); photographer Sebastião Salgado (2016); artist El Anatsui (2015); contemporary artist Alfredo Jaar (2014); sculptor Charles Ray (2013); former director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Philippe de Montebello (2012); South African artist William Kentridge (2011); among many others.
Lecture tickets are free for The San Diego Museum of Art and MCASD members; $5 for students; $10 for seniors and military; and $15 for nonmembers. Virtual event access information will be shared with ticket confirmation. Tickets can be purchased starting October 17 at www.sdmart.org/event/axlinelecture2022.
About The San Diego Museum of Art
Providing a rich and diverse cultural experience, The San Diego Museum of Art houses some of the world’s finest art. Located in the heart of Balboa Park, the Museum’s internationally renowned collection of more than 20,000 works–dating from 3000 BC to present day–includes Spanish and Italian old masters, South Asian paintings including the Edwin Binney 3rd Collection of Indian paintings, East Asian art, American art, and Modern and Contemporary paintings and sculptures. The Museum regularly features major exhibitions of art from around the world, as well as an extensive year-round schedule supporting cultural and educational programs for children and adults. It also hosts engaging experiences that invite visitors to explore art through music, dance, film, food, and so much more. At The San Diego Museum of Art, exhibition text is always in English and Spanish.
The San Diego Museum of Art is located at 1450 El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego, Calif., 92101. General Information, (619) 232-7931, Group Sales: (619) 696-1935, Website: http://www.SDMArt.org Twitter: @SDMA, Instagram: @SanDiegoMuseumofArt Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSanDiegoMuseumOfArt.
About Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is the region’s foremost forum devoted to the exploration and presentation of the art of today. Open since 1941, we welcome all audiences to reflect on their lives, communities, and the ever-changing world through the powerful prism of contemporary art. Between two MCASD locations — one in the heart of downtown San Diego and the other in the coastal community of La Jolla — we showcase an internationally-recognized collection. MCASD’s dynamic exhibition schedule features a vast array of media in an unprecedented variety of spaces, along with a growing dedication to community experiences and public programs. As a cultural hub, MCASD seeks to catalyze conversation in our region. Website: www.mcasd.org
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