Artist Jorge Bordello Wins XXI Bienal de Fotografía Award
The XXI Bienal de Fotografía has honored artist Jorge Bordello and Sonia Madrigal with the Acquisition Prize, enriching the national photographic collection. Bordello’s multimedia installation “Ejercicios de adherencia” (Exercises of Adherence) and Madrigal’s series “Obra en blanco” (White Work) have been recognized for their artistic merit.
Bordello’s Triumphant Return to His Artistic Roots
Bordello’s award is particularly significant as it marks his successful return to the space that launched his career a decade ago. “Ejercicios de adherencia” transcends the static image, addressing the complex and often invisible relationship between people living with HIV and their medications.
The Installation as a Visceral Metaphor
Bordello’s installation consists of seven monitors connected to a central system, with cables deliberately exposed. This technical choice is not arbitrary but a “love letter to video’s historiography” and a direct allusion to the body.
“These small metaphors, these small images are connected by intestines, electric intestines connected to a common brain, also connected to another heart that houses the piece, the video, in memory. It subtly alludes to the visceral nature of HIV through cables and screens, exposed in an uncovered manner,” explains Bordello about the setup.
The creative process drew from research and cohabitation with the HIV community in Tlaxcala, transforming personal experiences into subtle symbols referring to local masculinity and the rural environment, using images like corn and local pest.
Adherence: Beyond the Clinical Perspective
Bordello addresses the term “adherence” not only for its medical connotation but also as a social and gender expectation imposed on people living with HIV.
“Adherence as a clinical expectation, but also an expectation of masculinity, in some way remaining healthy but also harmless. It’s something we are heavily asked and demanded to do as people living with HIV,” emphasizes the artist.
This concept extends to the importance Bordello attributes to the montage. For him, the installation and format are half the work, a necessary contrast to “the human scale, the distance, the field of vision, the smell, the color, the lighting, the drama one can adhere to the work.”
Queer Commitment and Artistic Evolution
Reflecting on his decade-long career, Bordello contemplates his journey. Although he considers the photographic community “very closed,” his space in video and audiovisual image has provided a path of experimentation and support. However, his strongest bond remains with his community.
“With each project, I realize how important it is for me to be connected to my community, even more than the art system itself, while producing art and feeling more secure and welcomed by the community, glad to be able to do this kind of work, even with the intention of representing them,” asserts Bordello.
The work, now part of the Centro de la Imagen’s collection, aims to leave a message for future generations of the queer community and visual arts, as Bordello shares: “not to fear production, challenges, and experimentation.”
Exhibition Details
The XXI Bienal de Fotografía exhibition, featuring “Ejercicios de adherencia” by Jorge Bordello and “Obra en blanco” by Sonia Madrigal, is open to the public at Centro de la Imagen until March 2026. Visit from Wednesday to Saturday, 11:00-14:00 and 15:00-18:00. Entry is free; follow their social media for guided tours and activations.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Jorge Bordello? An artist known for his multimedia installations, including “Ejercicios de adherencia,” which explores the relationship between people living with HIV and their medications.
- What is “Ejercicios de adherencia”? A multimedia installation by Jorge Bordello that uses seven monitors and exposed cables to symbolize the visceral nature of living with HIV.
- Why is Bordello’s award significant? It marks his successful return to the space that launched his career and highlights his unique approach to addressing HIV through art.
- What does “adherence” mean in Bordello’s work? It refers to both the medical expectation of consistent medication use and the social and gender expectations imposed on people living with HIV.
- How does Bordello connect his work to his community? He prioritizes connection with his community, finding inspiration and support in their experiences and identities.
