UAM Finishes Restoring the Home of Surreal Artist Leonora Carrington in Mexico; Soon to Open for Virtual Visit
Surreal artist Leonora Carrington's home in Mexico will open for virtual visits after a university from the country has finished the restoration of her residence. The 431-square-meter three-level home of the artists will open to the public virtually with a 360-degree view, according to an El Universal report.
Carrington a British-born artist has called Mexico her home for almost 70 years before resting in peace in 2011. The virtual tour will be available on Tuesday for people to witness the house Carrington and her family shared.
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Leonora Carrington's House Restoration
Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM) was the one responsible for restoring Carrington's Mexico City home. The UAM has started restoring the residence in 2018 and made it look like how it appears when Carrington was still residing in the house.
"This is not a museum, it's a home study," said Francisco Mata. Mata also added that Leonora Carrington's residence will also serve as an "academic and cultural project." Francisco Mata is UAM's communications coordinator.
Leonora Carrington's restored home in Mexico has displayed her artworks throughout the residence. Carrington's Erstwhile clothes are secured in her closet. Moreover, black and white photographs of the family books she owned are also present in the restored abode. In addition, the spices that Leonora Carrington has used are also displayed on her kitchen shelves.
About $590,000 were spent by the UAM in purchasing the residence and restoration. Most of the restoration is completed in 2020 including the panting of Carrington's home, building a new staircase, repairing the floors, and even rewiring.
Alejandra Osorio confirmed that the house is now completely restored. However, Leonora Carrington's residence is still not yet available for an in-person visit due to the coronavirus pandemic. Osorio is the one who led the restoration of Carrington's home in its former glory.
"Leonora Carrington lived here with her family... The house itself is a great document," said Francisco Mata. Mata also pointed out that Carrington's restored home in Mexico will also feature domestic items such as combs, glasses, hair clips, and even letters, and diaries.
Osorio noted that more than 8,600 objects inside the residence were removed and cataloged. Many of them will be digitalized to make them available for researchers and people who are interested in Carrington's life.
Who is Leonora Carrington?
Leonora Carrington is born in English born Mexican surrealist artist and writer. She was born on April 6, 1917, in Clayton Green, Lancashire England. Carrington arrived in Mexico in 1942. She became a Mexican citizen and lived in Mexico City for the rest of her life.
Carrington was honored with her one-woman exhibition in Pierre Matisse Gallery in 1948. Carrington is known for her haunting, autobiographical, and somewhat mysterious paintings. Most of her works feature alchemy, metamorphosis, sorcery, and the occult.
Because Leonora Carrington was well recognized by the country that adopted her, the National Museum for Anthropology in Mexico City commissioned her to create a large mural. She entitled her mural El Mundo Mágico de Los Mayas which translates to "the magical world of the Maya."
The Virtual tour of Leonora Carrington's residence in Mexico City concurs with the Anniversary of her birth.
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WATCH: Leonora Carrington - Britain's Lost Surrealist - from Tate