Curating Doris Salcedo

2010s Artists Curatorial Directors Exhibitions

Madeleine Grynsztejn reflects on the power of the Doris Salcedo retrospective.

I have to say that when asked about the sort of top moments for me as part of this incredible tenure, I have to say that cocurating Doris Salcedo's exhibition with Julie Rodrigues Widholm is really clearly near the top. Doris Salcedo is an artist from Colombia that I have followed and honored and championed for 25 years. And I've always wanted to do a retrospective of her work, and she agreed to do it here at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

It was a powerful, powerful exhibition, an exhibition that talked about the less fortunate, the vulnerable—not just in Colombia, but worldwide—and talked about humanity's ability to correct wrongs. And this too became a very important exhibition to have at that very moment in time. It allowed her to create new work, which is very important to us.

Doris Salcedo, Untitled, 2008. Wooden armoire, wooden cabinet, concrete, and steel; 86 5/8 x 95 ¼ x 40 in. (220 x 242 x 102 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, gift of Katharine S. Schamberg by exchange, 2008.20. Photo © MCA Chicago.

Doris Salcedo, Untitled, 2008. Wooden armoire, wooden cabinet, concrete, and steel; 86 5/8 x 95 ¼ x 40 in. (220 x 242 x 102 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, gift of Katharine S. Schamberg by exchange, 2008.20. Photo © MCA Chicago.

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