‘FOCO ROJO’
MEXICO CITY ruG or WALL HANGING

The rug depicts a satellite image of Mexico City by air by night

by Ariel Rojo, Mexico, 2012

MATERIAL: Hand-tufted rug, New Zealand wool and silk.
PRODUCTION: by ODABASHIAN rugs (Mexico / Miami), made in India
SIZE: H 270 x W 180 cm // H 70.87 x 106.3 in

EDITION of 20 + 2 AP

A spectacular rug portraying an aerial view of Mexico City by night. Hand-tufted in India by esteemed Mexican company ‘Odabashian’ rugs, using silk and New Zealand wool.
ARIEL ROJO is a prolific Mexican designer dedicated to enhancing the quality of life through design solutions. Conscience, responsibility, and humour are the key ingredients of his design philosophy.
Founded in Mexico City in 1921, ODABASHIAN (Mexico City and Miami) is a fourth-generation family business that focuses on bespoke design and manufacture of hand-woven luxury rugs and is one of the oldest oriental rug retailers in the Americas. Odabashian has produced collectable hand-made rugs in collaboration with world-renowned architects, designers, and artists.

'Foco Rojo' carries two messages: the first is the state of ‘alertness’ of Mexico City. With a population of 25 million, this metropolitan territory is one of the most populated in the world. Insecurity, corruption, and crime fuel distress. However, this alertness is also characterised by a quick-wittedness and energy that triggers an enormous power stimulating creativity that again gives rise to change.
FOCO ROJO by Ariel Rojo was selected to be part of the blockbuster show at the MAD (Museum of Art and Design) New York – New Territories, Latin American Design (see image below).
“EACH LIGHT IN THE RUG REPRESENTS AN IDEA BORN EVERY MINUTE IN MEXICO AND CONVEYS THAT MEXICO IS ON THE VERGE OF SOMETHING UNIQUE AND NEW.” [cit. Ariel Rojo].
Edition of 20 + 2 AP.

We were proud to be part with FOCO ROJO in a major exhibition at the MAD New York (Museum of Art and Design). It was a landmark exhibition to showcase Latin American contemporary design and craft, and the first ever museum show to tackle this exciting subject.

’NEW TERRITORIES, Laboratories for Design, Craft and Art in Latin America’, was on: November 4, 2014 to February 22, 2015

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

New Territories explored the collaborations between small manufacturing operations and craftspersons, artists, and designers, and demonstrated how the resulting work addresses not only the issues of commodification and production, but also of urbanization, displacement, and sustainability. The exhibition explored a number of key themes, including: the dialogue between contemporary trends and artistic legacies in Latin American art; the use of recycled and repurposed materials and objects; the blending of digital and traditional skills; and the reclamation of personal and public space.

New Territories was organized by MAD’s then Acting Chief Curator Lowery Stokes Sims and Adriana Kertzer, Curatorial Assistant and Project Manager. The exhibition was accompanied by a fully-illustrated, full color catalogue.