Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa

Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa (1978, Guatemala) creates dreamlike works of art taking elements from literature, folklore, magic and childhood memories. His work explores cultural identity and history, trauma, colonisation and the connection between humans and nature. He uses various media such as performance, film, sculpture, painting, and installation. The result is always strongly visual, often with a humorous, playful or absurd side. Certain elements - such as masks or the act of sleeping - recur regularly throughout his oeuvre and are thus given layered meanings, whether literally, figuratively, philosophically, or as metaphors.

Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa lives and works in Guatemala City. He studied in Vancouver, Chicago and Maastricht. He has participated in several solo and group exhibitions, such as recently at Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf (2021), The Powerplant, Toronto (2020), Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid (2020), Mendes Wood DM, Brussels (2019), Proyectos Ultravioleta, Guatemala City (2018) and New Museum, New York (2018).

Ramírez-Figueroa's work is rooted in experimental theatre and has a political-activist side, often linked to the history of his country. The tragic civil war in Guatemala (1960-1996) is one of the recurring subjects. In his more recent work, themes are broader and reflect ecology, the relationship between humans and nature and the history of raw materials such as tea, cocoa and silk.

Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa, Lugar de Consuelo, 2021 ©Courtesy of the artist, foto Robert Beske

Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa, Variación sobre hoja de anturio #6, 2021 © Courtesy of the artist, Sies + Höke Düsseldorf, foto Guillermo González

The exhibition at M shows a selective overview of his diverse artistic practice, with installations, sculptures, woodcuts and films. A new group of sculptures developed by the artist last year will also be presented. This new work deals with the complex history of silk in Guatemala in both a figurative and narrative way, touching on the Mayan culture and with links to China, Mexico and Spain, among others. The production and presentation of this work is supported by M.

'The House at Kawinal', Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa, 2018 © Courtesy of the artist, photo: Dirk Pauwels for M Leuven

'Dea Ex Machina', Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa, 2021 © Courtesy of the artist, photo: Dirk Pauwels for M Leuven

Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa, Playground, 2018 — Playground 2018 © M Leuven, foto: Ushua Goeminne

This is not the first time M has shown work by Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa. In 2017 and 2018 he presented some of his films and a performance during the Playground festival. In 2018, he worked on new creations during his M residency.

Curator: Eva Wittocx

Thanks to Sies + Höke, Mendes Wood DM, Catherine Petitgas Collection, Frac Grand Large – Hauts-de-France.