El Sur
Tlalpan, Mexico City, Mexico
You have a very private space if you choose to stay at La Casita which is a mansion attached to a beautiful private studio. If you are okay with just a private room, there’s an option for that as well. Not cheap but think worth the investment as you will develop a solo show. Having the studio space transformed into a solo show exhibition space is a quite an experience. Curators are a bit loosely engaged but they have well-structured cultural and activity program as this residency is run by a family who lived in this property for generations. Also they invite a local artist in addition to 3-4 international artists to stay at the property during the residency which helps to learn more about the Mexican culture. The hosts (Vincente and Lupe) are very nice people! I also got lucky with fellow residents and had a great time. A but downside is that the exhibition is open only for 1 evening and you have to deinstall on the next day as it’s 5 week program which is not long enough to develop the show and keep it open for longer. The location is a bit far from the city center but I preferred the quiet local surroundings. They also have 3 lovely dogs who perfect the idyllic country life!
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I felt so happy, supported, and peaceful at El Sur. The wonderful folks who run and staff the residency were insightful, kind, and welcoming in a profound sense. It felt beautiful from start to finish, from the garden to the studio to the final exhibition the entire residency allowed me time for deep thought, artistic freedom, and happiness.
Staying at El Sur was the best I could have wished for. The neighborhood is preserved from gentrification, I felt like I was in a small town whilst perfectly connected to Mexico’s many centralities. The space itself is a marvel, the private rooms as much as the studio spaces. Above all I enjoyed meeting the dedicated team of artists and curators who run the space and ensured we had the best possible experience. We were immediately immersed in the city’s art scene, and supported in every step. In just 5 weeks I felt at home in the residency and the city, I made wonderful friends, got to research and work on my art in amazing conditions. I couldn’t recommend it more.
The highlight of this residency was the location and the space you get to work in. studios are very large and fill with natural light. You can pay for it or find funding that covers the cost of staying there for over a month.
The studio spaces were great and the home itself offered a calm environment to be able to focus on producing work. I think one of the hurdles is the financial cost of the program, however, there was no additional charge for group outings to museums or art related trips which was great and allowed for a really stimulating experience. Everyone at El Sur was helpful and wanted to support you in any way they could.
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