Mateo Cruz
a crumbling hacienda in Oaxaca, Mexico
Mateo Cruz roams the sunlit courtyards of a dilapidated hacienda in Oaxaca, where life unfolds through the hum of engines he repairs. A 300-mile journey to mourn a stranger reveals the profound paths he's willing to traverse. His days echo with the scraping of sandpaper and the patter of rain hitting a roof he struggles to mend, both metaphorical and literal.
Defining Work
About
Obsession
The gritty memory of sand trapped in shoes, old and forgotten.
Voice
Raindrop echoes on cracked tiles.
Artistic Medium
Assemblages constructed from repurposed engine parts and hand-foraged materials.
Technique
Layering engine components and raw textures meticulously.
Influences
The solitude of sunlit courtyards, the resilience of broken machines, the communal spirit of Mexican funerals.
Materials
Rust-laden engine parts, handmade paper steeped in local herbs, torn sepia tapestries.
Scale
Tabletop assemblages, mere inches tall but densely detailed.
Selected 2 times · Last: March 01, 2026
