Mexico City, Mexico09/16–12/16

Marlene Hausegger

The city and its colours, celebrations, air pollution and ambiguities. The terrace on the premises of the embassy, books and lizards. The people are as short as me. My imagination is much greater. The underground publishing houses, artist-run spaces, the spirit of the beat generation. The road trips. Matriarchy in Tehuantepec. Imbibing the sun. Gracias to the Federal Chancellery.

1. Dos & don’ts in this place:
  Do's:
Just drift along
Vitamin T: tacos, tortillas, tortas, tamales
Mezcal
Always have change with you
Tips of 10%
Bring along charcoal tablets
Second-hand bookshops and markets
Roberto Bolaño class
Don'ts:
Expecting locals to be punctual, walking in certain neighbourhoods during the night
2. Where you can buy great supplies:
  Paper/copy shop:LUMEN www.lumen.com.mx
Photography:LMI www.lmi.com.mx
Tools and craft supplies: market atCalle Mesones
3. On art in Mexico City I can say this:
  Art books/independet publishing houses: Crater Invertido, Ediciones Gato Negro
Art magazine: Terremoto
Artist run spaces: Biquini Wax, Ladrón Galeria, Casa Maauad
Museums: Museum of Anthropology, Trotzky Museum, Museo Tamayo, El Eco, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo’s studio
Institutionen: Sala de Arte Siqueros, Soma, Casa Baragan & Jardin Luis Ortega
Galleries: Lulu, Labor, House of Gaga, Proyectos Monclova, Kurimanzutto und viele mehr
Artist-run library: AEROMOTO: www.aeromoto.mx
4. Around the studio – this is where I go shopping, drink a coffee and get the best lunch specials within walking distance:
  The supermarket Superama is 5 minutes away at Sierra Ventanas/Monte Libano. A few smaller restaurants are nearby. The "casita", the studio building, is situated in the embassy quarter – Beverly Hills style, everything rather expensive.
I prefer to eat downtown in Roma or simply get some street food at a taco stand or on a market (on Thursdays there is always a market across from the embassy).
5. Where I like to spend the evening (dinner, drinks and best sound):
  The “Anzengruber” of Mexico City: La Covadonga
A hipster stronghold, but great local food and drinks: la Parnita
The coolest bar/mezcaleria: El Bósforo
Surreal after-after-afterhours club: Barbazul
6. What I would have liked to know about the studio already at the start of my residency:
  A decent map to get some orientation


Website resident:              mmhhh.com