LONDON.- This Sunday the 23rd August saw the installation and unveiling of Mexican artist Rivelino’s monumental sculpture You on King Charles Island in Trafalgar Square. This is the first in a series of high-profile unveilings of contemporary Mexican sculpture across the capital this September, coinciding with the celebratory Dual Year of UK and Mexico 2015 (mexicouk2015.mx).

Contemporary Mexican Sculpture: The Vision of Four Artists is a unique exhibition of new large-format sculpture in volcanic stone, bronze and resin by celebrated sculptors Yvonne Domenge (b.1946), Jorge Yazpik (b.1955), Paloma Torres (b. 1960) and José Rivelino (b.1973), representing four successive generations of Mexican artists here in London.

The four monumental works havel been placed in various locations across the capital, and sit against the backdrop of some of London’s most iconic landmarks. Rivelino’s colossal 25-ton sculpture You takes centre stage in King Charles Island in Trafalgar Square. Here two index fingers, equal in weight, colour and size point towards each other in commanding fashion. Intended as a reflection on human equality, the two pointing fingers are seen from afar as distinct entities; but through engaging in the intervening space between the fingers, the viewer opens up a dialogue of inclusivity.

Rivelino comments: “In a world that is self-evidently unequal, ‘You’ calls upon viewers to question their attitude towards the highly significant issue of equality between human beings.”

Contemporary Mexican Sculpture is the first group exhibition of large format Mexican sculpture in the capital, and is the result of a unique collaboration between Nuri Contreras Martret, Director of Art4, Latin American Art specialist Katrinka Wood and the Mexican Embassy in the UK.

Nuri Contreras Martret, Director of Art4, commented: “I am delighted that iconic London locations will play host to these wonderful and thought-provoking sculptures from four successive generations of Mexican artists. As one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, London has a strong reputation for its ongoing commitment to public sculpture and is therefore, a fantastic platform to showcase contemporary Mexican art.”

Diego Gómez Pickering, the Mexican Ambassador to the UK, said: “led by the expertise of contemporary Mexican art specialist Nuri Contreras, this wonderful project will not only showcase Mexico’s rich cultural heritage here in the United Kingdom, but it will also bring together diverse audiences in the celebration of the Dual Year between our two nations.”

Ines Djelassi, CEO and Founder of Lodgeo, said: “Lodgeo is delighted to sponsor the Contemporary Mexican Sculpture exhibition. We have strong ties to Mexico, with an office and team based in Cancun, as well as over 15,000 hotels spread across 1,500 cities in Mexico, so we are thrilled to have been able to play a part in promoting Mexican culture on such a large and prestigious scale.”

José Rivelino Moreno Valle, known artistically as Rivelino, was born in 1973 in Jalisco, Mexico. Widely exhibited, Rivelino has participated in more than 60 group exhibitions and 35 solo shows both in Mexico and abroad. He gained international acclaim with Nuestros Silencios (Our Silences), a monumental sculptural installation sculpture which toured in nine European cities, and in 2010, exhibited at the Mexican Pavilion at Shanghai Expo .

Rivelino has found the urban landscape to be a fertile setting for engaging the public, stimulating dialogue and playing upon the notion of collective memory. Inspired by key contemporary issues, Rivelino’s work seeks to liberate through form, the public’s perception of the real and surreal, the tangible and intangible.