The Beetle Trilogy

This first North American monograph on Mexican artist Damian Ortega documents 10 years of work focused on conceptual practice, social organization, and humor, including the installations and performances that make up his acclaimed Beetle Trilogy, several works never before exhibited and a great deal of unpublished material. Most of whatís here hasnít been seen before. The first episode of the trilogy, The Cosmic Thing, a disassembled Volkswagen suspended in the air, was featured in Gabriel Orozcoís Il Quotidiano Alterato at the 2003 Venice Biennale, and was one of the most widely reproduced images of that yearís exhibition. Moby Dick, a heroic action involving the artistís Beetle, a live band, ropes and pulleys, followed, and then Beetle '83 Escarabajo, a ritual return to the vehicleís place of birth, closed the cycle. The Beetle Trilogy and Other Works includes a new comic, 150 color images and an original essay by Hari Kunzru, author of The Impressionist and one of Granata's 20 ìBest Young British Novelistsî in 2003.

Damian Ortega