Art Basel’s ‘Meet the collectors’ film series celebrates today’s most inspiring patrons
As Museo Jumex, a cultural landmark in the heart of Mexico City, celebrates its ten-year anniversary, the philanthropist reflects on his humble start and the vision behind the museum.
In this episode of ‘Meet the collectors’, we visit Eugenio López Alonso’s Mexico City residence, Galería Jumex, and Museo Jumex. When the philanthropist started collecting at age 24, he saw ‘a world that was international and impacted me in a very, very positive way,’ he recalls in the film. Today, his home is brimming with works by local and international artists including Gabriel Orozco, Gabriel Kuri, Sherrie Levine, Paul McCarthy, Wolfgang Tillmans, Danh Võ, and Urs Fischer.
In 2001, López Alonso inaugurated his first public-facing space, Galería Jumex in the Jumex juice factory on the outskirts of Mexico City. This first gallery, conceived as a space for experimentation, became a crucible for the unexpected. ‘We had no idea what this was going to become. It was an adventure, a new generation of artists. It was to create something international,’ he observes. And indeed, the gallery not only provided a platform for emerging artists but also sowed the seeds for a more significant endeavor.
In 2013, Alonso’s commitment to culture led to the foundation of Museo Jumex, designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect David Chipperfield. Nestled in the heart of Mexico City, it showcases his extensive collection and represents a nexus of contemporary artistic voices. ‘That was the best thing that has happened to me, to bring those artists to people in Mexico,’ says Alonso.
Museo Jumex is celebrating its ten-year anniversary with an exhibition of works from its collection of 3200 objects. The exhibition, 'Everything Gets Lighter' runs through February 11, 2024 and occupies all three floors of the museum’s exhibition spaces.
Direction and Editing: Cristian Manzutto
Photography: Cristian Manzutto, David Cruz, Ramón Orozco
Location Sound: Ferhat Tokamak
Music: Contrabajos, Quique Rangel y Mike Sandoval
Image and Sound Post-production: estudio de producción
Graphics: Sala Post
Production: estudio de producción
Art Basel
Executive Editor: Coline Milliard
Senior Editor: Alicia Reuter
Video Commissioner: Jeanne-Salomé Rochat
Creative Producer: Akiel Gallina
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