A New Museum

Mexico City has more museums than almost any city in the world.  (The last time I checked only London has more.)  Although many museums are still closed due to the pandemic, a brand new museum opened within the last year.  I went downtown last week to check it out... Museo Kaluz.

The museum is located at the edge of the "Centro Histórico" across from the Alameda Park. The building dates back to the 18th century when it was established as the Hospital of Santo Tomás de Villanueva.  For many decades it was a small hotel, Hotel de Cortés, a boutique hotel before that term came into fashion.  The hotel closed its doors not too long ago, but on one of my pre-pandemic trips I noticed that work was being done on the building.  I figured that another hotel would be opening in its place.  As it turned out, the building was being renovated to house the art collection of Mexican billionaire Antonio del Valle Ruiz.

Entering the courtyard of the building, you find an enormous "ofrenda" that has been set up for the Day of the Dead.

A "calaca" (skeleton) carrying a large "calavera" (skull)

One of the myriad of "papel picado" (cut paper) banners decorating the courtyard

The collection of paintings, which spans the 18th through the 21st centuries, is relatively traditional.  There is no "out there" contemporary art.  In other words, it suited my old-fashioned tastes just fine.  The collection consists of art by Mexican painters or works with Mexican subject matter done by foreign artists.  It is divided into the genres of landscapes, portraits, still-lives, and "costumbrista" paintings (paintings which depict the customs of the country).  Many of the major names in Mexican art are represented although much of the collection consists of works by lesser known artists.

I enjoyed the museum, but I had one major gripe.  Visitors are allowed to take pictures with their cell phones but not with cameras.  I have never encountered that before.  Some museums do not allow photography at all, but most allow photography without flash.  I asked what difference it makes whether one uses a cell phone or a camera.  They said something about not allowing professional photography.  The little digital camera I am using is far from professional level.  Besides, I have read that many professional photographers are using cell phones because of their high quality nowadays.  

So, because of that, all I have to offer you of the museum's collection are these posters which were hanging on the outside of the building...