A monolithic sculpture installed in an open-air atrium

Monumental and monochromatic, this site-specific sculpture explores the duality between different concepts.

Located in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, Meridiano is a truly spectacular exhibition space that looks like an artwork in of itself. Founded by Nicholas Olney and Boris Vervoordt, the contemporary art gallery was designed by Axel Vervoordt and Tatsuro Miki. Built by local artisans with locally sourced stone and lime plaster, the main building features an open square and a rectangular room designed with a central opening that frames the sky. A beautiful example of contemporary Mexican architecture, the structure pays homage to the cultural heritage of Oaxaca. Argentinian artist Gabriel Chaile has created a monolithic sculpture that perfectly inhabits the open-air space of Meridiano.

Named No se me quita lo naco, the site-specific sculpture is Chaile’s first black monochromatic work. While the artist usually creates using terracotta-like materials, he took the opportunity to explore other aesthetic styles, as Meridiano specifically encourages artists to create experimental designs. The sculpture explores themes integrated in Gabriel Chaile’s previous work, including The Milk of Dreams (2022), presented at the Venice Biennale. Apart from giving a nod to ancient ritual objects and ancestral art and craft traditions, the sculpture also explores the duality between dark and light, earth and sky, inner and outer worlds.

The artist used a locally sourced, black-pigmented clay, further connecting the work with local traditions. The sculpture also interacts with the site in different ways. Apart from creating a dialogue with the open-air atrium, it also rises through the central opening above the walls, reaching to the sky, to communicate visually with the lush landscape. Gabriel Chaile’s No se me quita lo naco exhibition runs from September 2023 until January 2024 at Meridiano in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. Photographs © Meridiano.