Mauricio Limón.

El primero que ría

Date: 2012
Length: 12:17 min.
Format: 16:9
Specifications: Colour, Sound, Two Channel
Courtesy Galeria Hilario Galguera
 

“El primero que ría” is a two-channel video which presents two business suited men with physical traits identifiable as those of the indigenous peoples of Mexico. Identical settings appear in both videos: a deserted landscape of shrubs and rocks. In one of the videos, a long shot of the pair provides a sense of space, while in the other the camera rotates slowly and constantly around the characters. The men play a variation of a French children’s game: “Le jeu de la barbichette”. Both players hold each other by the chin and recite a text which translates to: “I have you, / you have me / by the chin / The first one of us / to laugh / will get a slap.” While in the original version of the game the loser is slapped, in this setting he takes off a piece of clothing. The winner then holds him by the head and bends him over mimicking a fellatio. Nothing is playful about this game. Two men are trapped in an absurd loop, during which each of them plays his role with apathy and bears the consequences with resignation. They execute their actions in a severe mood, making the laughter sound artificial and forced. The process of undressing progressively exposes them to the desolate surroundings, making them appear defenseless, but also revealing them in their own physical nature. During this process, previously hidden marks on the bodies of these men are uncovered: tattoos and scars carve their skins strikingly. All these elements add up to a harsh denunciation of the present state of Mexican society. In the end, both men face each other completely naked and maintaining the initial position: holding each other by the chin.
Federico Alvarez Igarzábal

Interview:

► 1. Your work has been chosen among over 2000 festival entries to participate in VIDEONALE.14. In which context do you prefer to present your work, festival/cinema context or exhibition? And what kind of difference does the respective mode of presentation mean for you / your work?

Both options are good for me but I prefer Exhibition.
Festival/cinema is the best platform to show my work for many people and I like that.
Exhibition context is perfect to show my work as a whole process and that works better for my stile of work. 

► 2. Art can be seen as a mirror that registers and reflects life or as a tool that transforms it. Is there a particular theme, concept or problem your art addresses the most?

I try to show my concerns and questions about some particularities from my context. I don´t try to change anything in the mind of the others or reflect nothing that don´t belongs to my own experience. My intention is create ties between the subjects of my work and the onlookers.

► 3. In which way is the video medium an excellent possibility to express your intended subjects, especially in contrast to other media you use? Or do you work exclusively with video?

Video is the perfect medium to show the whole process of my work in other medias.

► 4. If you have the chance to ask the visitors of the VIDEONALE.14 exhibition questions about your own work, what would be your question?

There is something that has become abundantly clear?