photography by MANUÉL JIMÉNEZ
Prior to the temporary closure of the museum, Rufino Tamayo’s room of MUPO hosted Francisco Toledo’s retrospective; today, it is Franz Klainsek’s prayer for the world.
Franz Klainsek creates “PRAY” — a museum exhibition at a 17th century built Museum in Oaxaca, Mexico. The immersive work by the artist will exhibit in the grand room of the museum through the end of 2021.
His conceptual artistic expression lives in transformation. “PRAY” as well as many exhibitions by the artist have presented transformed spaces of site-specific installations of immersive art, interactive work, sculptures, paintings, and performance.
The grand room’s floor at MUPO Museum is covered by an immersive installation work, created of over 100,000 individually balanced gold nails.
Franz’s work is a byproduct of his continuous philosophical exploration. “PRAY” is the second large-scale exhibition this American artist has in Mexico — with the first being a public art exhibition “LIBERATION”. During the cultural global shutdown due to the pandemic, Franz Klainsek initiated a Land Art project on Mexican soil on 9,000 acres of semidesert. He had created an interactive land sculpture “SUN DANCE”. Inspired by the indigenous ceremony that empowers men through their divine connection with the sun.
Franz Klainsek’s large-scale sculptures and installations often include references to freedom and to the search for truth in a complex society. His endurance art pieces bring awareness to issues that cause suffering, while almost always presenting the viewer with a choice of arriving at a possible solution, striving for redemption.
Franz’s work pushes the boundaries between space, art, and human interaction. Franz Klainsek’s work has a tendency to push the boundaries of endurance. Working on a grand scale, Franz creates physically and mentally demanding pieces in full body and mental dedication. Franz Klainsek presents themes of human evolution through his work while exploring the relationship of matter, perception, movement, and the mind. His artwork often straddles the line between object and performance.
Franz Klainsek’s “PRAY”, 2021, is his prayer to the world.
Here is his statement:
“We were programmed to pray to an outside source. But what about prayer to ourselves? A prayer to our Being? To where we’ve been, where we are, where we are going – to our journey?
A prayer to respect and honor ourselves. The road we have traveled. The miles we have walked. The lessons we’ve earned. However light or dark, the truth is we are magnificent. And deserve to be pedestalled as a champion of champions.
With every nail, I honor myself. I honor all those brothers and sisters who walk with me. I honor spiritual healers and men of enlightenment — such as Jesus. And I honor women of enlightenment- such as Mother Teresa. We are all worthy of honor. We are not to be penalized for past faults, but rewarded for our courage to move forward; with greater resolve, and a firmer step than yesterday. My mantra with each nail is: I will do better, I will be better and I will learn to accept and face my challenges with an open heart. I will remain connected with my fellow brothers and sisters with empathy and strength to live moment to moment as we continue to carve our individual evolution. All in all, our only duty is to evolve.
As individuals, I believe we must define prayer on our own, define faith on our own. Our journey to this point, with all its ups downs, struggles, hardships, and victories, the truest testament is that we are here in the now; that we have survived is enough reason to have faith. We are strong beyond words. Both consciously, and more often than not – subconsciously. Finding faith in the present moment is the most powerful weapon of all. An act of communication between what I perceive myself to be and what my deepest truth may reveal.
I place a nail in prayer to intention, a prayer to live a romanticized life, committed to creating from the self-empowering, endlessly courageous, and evolutionary state of balance. Creating from moment to moment in an intention-driven life. A life broken into millions of prayers. This final nail – a prayer to my being and to my life.”
