M HKA Ensembles

Installation, variable dimensions.

Collection: Courtesy of the artist.

Murillo has developed a new project for M HKA that approaches the exhibition space as a production site for a functioning factory of ceramic coconuts, like those often found in places such as Columbia and Mexico. From a family of factory workers, he, and occasionally his father, will occupy this space, initially to set-up the factory, and then to run it on occasional days throughout the duration of the exhibition. In turning part of the museum into an operational production space, Murillo opens up questions of labour and globalisation, as well as more relational subjects of community and family, whereas the ceramic coconuts comment on the marketability of ‘exotic’ cultural identities.

Murillo has been in residence at Air Antwerp – the city’s international artist residency programme – where he spent a month to develop his work. (NH)