TRANSactions CONTEMPORARY LATIN AMERICAN AND LATINO ART @ MCASD Museum Of Contemporary Art San Diego

BARRAGÁN MELY 

Mexican, born 1975

suite of four prints, edition of 100

Aquatint (33.7 X 41.3 cm) Museum purchase with proceeds from Museum of Contemporary Art Of San Diego. ART AUCTION 2004-2006

In 2002 Mely Barragán undertook a yearlong study of the roadside sculptures commonly called <mono mofles (Muffler men).

Constructed of used muffler and tailpipe parts, the monos mofles stand outside muffler shops in downtown Tijuana to advertise the mechanic´s welding skills and to attract business in a

competitive strip of automobile repair shops. The dynamic commercial activity of these streets (and larger number of automotive business) reflects the centrality of the car to Tijuana´s urban experience.

Barragán´s intent is to document the sculpture typology of the mono mofles- a local craft that represents regional identity -and reposition it as a legitimate folk art equal to any Mexico´s respected

artisan traditions.

Text from museum catalogue.