BE-LONGING

BE-LONGING brought together selected works from the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection and contemporary artists living and working in Mexico. The exhibition explored the theme of identity, a subject deeply embedded in contemporary artistic discourse and continuously negotiated within society at large. The works by 32 international artists illustrated not only the relevance and complexity of the chosen topic, but also its potential to promote individual and collective resilience.

The exhibited works dealt with identity-forming aspects such as bodies, origins, memories, geographies and vocations. These thematic strands allow for multiple interpretations and perspectives on identity emphasizing the concepts of fluidity, dialogue, and the interplay between different points of view. Visitors were invited to contribute their own experiences and associations to this dialogue, making a space for exchange, reflection and critical engagement with the evolving nature of identity in contemporary society. The exhibition’s scenography was designed by the esteemed Mexico City-based architectural studio C Cúbica, which developed a modular display tailored to the concept of the exhibition. This design reinforced the exhibition’s emphasis on interconnectedness and multiplicity.

The show marked the launch of a series of dialogue-driven, international exhibitions of the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection designed to engage with local artistic practices. Through a dynamic and modular approach, this initiative aims to reach a broad international audience while fostering collaborations between Mercedes-Benz employees, different communities as well as diverse artistic networks in key international locations—Mexico City being the first.

BE-LONGING was realized together with Mercedes-Benz Mexico, which has a longstanding relationship with the local cultural sphere. This cooperation reinforces the company’s commitment to the arts as part of its broader social engagement.

Curated by Polina Stroganova for the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection.

Artists: Emma Adler, Jane Alexander, Farah Al Qasimi, Francis Alÿs, Leonor Antunes, Pia Camil, Nicole Chaput, Clément Cogitore, Cao Fei, David Goldblatt, Wu Hao, Isaac Julien, Alicja Kwade, Enrique López Llamas, Robert Mapplethorpe, Jorge Méndez Blake, Zanele Muholi, Ann-Kathrin Müller, Berenice Olmedo, Annu Palakunnathu Matthew, Chantal Peñalosa Fong, Elodie Pong, Naomi Rincón Gallardo, Bárbara Sánchez-Kane, Lerato Shadi, Dayanita Singh, Pamela Singh, Buhlebezwe Siwani, Martin Soto Climent, Tercerunquinto, Frieda Toranzo Jaeger, Theresa Weber

Public Program

As part of its commitment to fostering inclusive dialogue and public engagement, BE-LONGING was accompanied by a dynamic public program. These events expanded the exhibition’s core themes, inviting diverse audiences to engage with the multiple conceptual axes of the exhibition. Two evenings were developed in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut México and took place at their premises.

Events taking place at Espacio CDMX:
Address: Av. de los Compositores 4, Bosque de Chapultepec II Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11100 Mexico City

Artsy Roadrunner – Family Experience (15.06.2025, 10:00 am CST)

A fun-filled family event at Bosque de Chapultepec II Secc! After a group run through the park (approx. 2 km), participants visited the BE-LONGING exhibition. The event provided an opportunity to enjoy nature, meet other families, sharpen observation and explore art together.

Guided Tours (22.06.2025, 19.07.2025 & 16.08.2025, 11:00 am CST)

Visitors took part in a guided tour of BE-LONGING to explore the artworks and installations on display. The tour provided insights into the artists’ perspectives and offered a deeper understanding of the exhibition’s concept. Suitable for participants aged 12 and older.

Special Night Tour with the Exhibition Curator (26.06.2025, 8:00 pm CST)

Participants joined a special night tour of BE-LONGING, guided by the exhibition curator Polina Stroganova. They explored the artworks and installations on display while gaining further insights into the artists’ perspectives and exhibition’s concept. Suitable for participants aged 12 and older.

Panel: Wall Revelations – Behind the Exhibition Architecture (10.07.2025, 6:00 pm CST)

In this panel we focused on fascinating insights into exhibition architecture! Andrea Cesarman, Marco Coello (both founding partners of C Cúbica Arqitectos), Jorge Méndez Blake (contemporary artist, participating in the exhibition) and Polina Stroganova (curator of the exhibition) reflected on spatial, technical and conceptual aspects that make up the architecture of an exhibition. Based on curatorial and installation experiences, they discussed the importance of the ‘choreography of space’ and explored how the spatial relationships between different exhibition elements construct a narrative.

Who’s Afraid of Video Art? A Journey for Young Visitors (12.07.2025, 11:00 am CST)

Young visitors were invited to an event centered around video art. They explored a variety of video artworks in the exhibition, showcasing different styles and techniques used by contemporary artists. The event aimed to offer an educational and creative exploration of visual storytelling. Do not worry, there was no scary content! Suitable for children from 5-12.

Closing Event with Participating Artists and Curator (31.08.2025, 12:00 pm CST)

Visitors seized the last opportunity to see the exhibition and took part in the closing event together with participating artists and Polina Stroganova, the curator of the exhibition.

Events taking place at Goethe-Institut México:
Address: Tonalá 43, Roma Norte, 06700 Mexico City

Panel: Beyond the Visible – Collecting and Exhibiting as Devices for Intercultural Dialogue (10.06.2025, 6:00 pm CST)

The panel reflected on exhibitions and collections as spaces of encounter and cultural mediation. Through examples such as BE-LONGING, dialogical curatorial approaches, the relevance of intercultural exchange in contemporary art, and exhibitions as active platforms for dialogue, was discussed.

With Dr Anne Vieth (Head of the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection), Gerardo Cedillo Bolaños (National Coordination of Visual Arts, INBAL), Pia Entenmann (Director of the Goethe-Institut México), Martin Soto Climent (contemporary artist, participating in the exhibition), Rolando Flores Tovar and Gabriel Cázares Salas (contemporary artist collective Tercerunquinto, participating in the exhibition) and Polina Stroganova (curator of the exhibition).

Panel and Screening – From Private to Public. Ephemeral Work as a Shared Experience (06.08.2025, 7:00 pm CST)

The panel aimed to reflect on the challenges and possibilities posed by ephemeral practices in the context of contemporary art collections – corporate, institutional and private. On the basis of specific cases, strategies were discussed for collecting, preserving and, above all, democratically activating this type of work, promoting its accessibility and circulation beyond the conventional limits of the museum or private collections. As part of this panel, videos were presented by participating artists Chantal Peñalosa Fong and Enrique López Llamas, whose works maintain a conceptual dialogue with the themes addressed in the exhibition BE-LONGING.

With Dr Anne Vieth (Head of the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection), Boris Hirmas (private collector and art patron), Enrique López Llamas (contemporary artist, participating in the exhibition), Chantal Peñalosa Fong (contemporary artist, participating in the exhibition), Magnolia de la Garza (Director of the Isabel and Agustín Coppel Collection) and Polina Stroganova (curator of the exhibition).