BE-LONGING

BE-LONGING brings together selected works from the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection and contemporary artists living and working in Mexico. The exhibition explores 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 illustrate not only the relevance and complexity of the chosen topic, but also its potential to promote individual and collective resilience.

The exhibited works deal 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 are 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 is designed by the esteemed Mexico City-based architectural studio C Cúbica, which has developed a modular display tailored to the concept of the exhibition. This design reinforces the exhibition’s emphasis on interconnectedness and multiplicity.

The show marks 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 is 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 is accompanied by a dynamic public program. These events expand the exhibition’s core themes, inviting diverse audiences to engage with the multiple conceptual axes of the exhibition. Two evenings have been developed in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut México and will take place at their premises.

Please register for the events via e-mail at art.collection@mercedes-benz.com stating event title and date, your name(s) and number of participants.

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)

Join us for a fun-filled family event at Bosque de Chapultepec II Secc! After a group run through the park (approx. 2 km), participants can visit the BE-LONGING exhibition. The event provides 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)

Take part in a guided tour of BE-LONGING to explore the artworks and installations on display. The tour provides insights into the artists’ perspectives and offers 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)

Take part in a special night tour of BE-LONGING, guided by the exhibition curator Polina Stroganova. Explore 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)

Gain fascinating insights into exhibition architecture! In this panel, 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) will reflect on spatial, technical and conceptual aspects that make up the architecture of an exhibition. Based on curatorial and installation experiences, they will discuss the importance of the ‘choreography of space’ and will explore 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 are invited to an event centered around video art. They will explore a variety of video artworks in the exhibition, showcasing different styles and techniques used by contemporary artists. The event aims to offer an educational and creative exploration of visual storytelling. Do not worry, there will not be any scary content! Suitable for children from 5-12.

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

Seize the last opportunity to see the exhibition and take 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 will reflect 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, will be discussed.

With Dr Anne Vieth (Head of the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection), Gerardo Cedillo Bolaños (National Coordination of Visual Arts, INBAL), Alina Grehl (curatorial assistant for the exhibition, doctoral researcher at the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection), 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 aims 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 will be 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 will be 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).

Please register for the events via e-mail at art.collection@mercedes-benz.com stating event title and date, your name(s) and number of participants.