July 21, 2024 – March 9, 2025
Relevance is a common word these days for museums as they work to catch
up with their audiences and the ever-changing world we live in, and one
sure way to stay relevant is to acquire and display work by contemporary
artists who are pushing the envelope with their ingenuity. Art keeps
transforming. New artists arrive to claim a place. Artists from
marginalized backgrounds are being given greater prominence.
Nearly a century ago, Gertrude Stein is reported to have said that “You
can be a museum, or you can be modern, but you can’t be both.” If you
can admit that a contemporary collection can only ever be “in the
making,” then the problem is not so hard. Think of this exhibition as a
snapshot of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s efforts to stay
contemporary, while also being a museum.
We’re excited to highlight the work of artist Rafael Perea de la Cabada and his captivating piece “Agua Bendita (Holy Water).” This remarkable work, created in 2000, features acrylic and mixed media on canvas, plastic bottles, cloth, and metal and is currently on view in the exhibition “In the Making: Contemporary Art at SBMA.”
In “Agua Bendita (Holy Water),” Perea de la Cabada, addresses the blurring of religious and pop culture symbols in present-day Mexico. The central
images include the eagle, the serpent, and the cactus—symbols foundational to Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Mexica empire. Additionally, there is an ambiguous shape that suggests both a Coca-Cola bottle and the Virgin of Guadalupe.
The 71 Coke bottles framing the work reference the number of years the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) held power in Mexico, ending with Vicente Fox Quesada's election to the presidency in 2000. (Fox was formerly the CEO of Coca-Cola Mexico.) This painting-assemblage not only implies the powerful presence of transnational corporations in Mexico but also, through its title, “Holy Water,” refers to the untouchable and unchangeable presence of brands and religious symbols assimilated into the culture.
Visit us to experience this unique work and explore the dynamic range of contemporary art.
Credit:
Rafael Perea de la Cabada, “Agua Bendita (Holy Water),” 2000. Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, plastic bottles, cloth, and metal. SBMA, Museum purchase with funds provided by the 20th Century Art Acquisition Fund. © Rafael Perea de la Cabada
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