Part archival research, archeological excavation and montage, Dodo, by Broomberg and Chanarin, started out with the discovery of previously unseen offcuts from the film Catch-22 (1970), in the vaults of Paramount Pictures.

Shot on the Mexican coastline, much more similar to Sicily of 1944 than the Sicily of 1968, these images portray the coastline and wildlife of the Sea of Cortez as it stood on the brink between isolation and urban development. Broomberg and Chanarin have re-edited the off-cuts from this seminal fiction film set in Italy during WWII, transforming it into a nature documentary set in 1968 in Mexico—evidence of a pristine landscape that no longer exists.

Further research into the production of the film revealed that one of the 18 planes used in the movie—the largest fleet of B-25s ever assembled since WWII—had been buried on set. Broomberg and Chanarin set out to find “the Mexican plane” and headed to San Carlos, on the outskirts of Guaymas, with an archeological expedition from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México to exhume it. But that’s not what they found.

Exhibition curated by Javier Rivero. Special thanks to Paramount Pictures, Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas (UNAM), Grupo Caballero, and Colección Uribe.

Fundación Jumex Arte Contemporáneo was created to promote the production, reflection and scholarship of contemporary art, and to generate innovative ways to foster art and culture. This is done through Colección Jumex, the Foundation’s art collection; Museo Jumex, a new venue for the exhibition and activation of contemporary art; Galería Jumex Ecatepec, an experimental exhibition space; and Publicaciones Jumex, a platform for the publication and dissemination of contemporary art discourse. Additionally, Fundación Jumex promotes its mission through three complimentary areas: Fomento, a program dedicated to support the production of contemporary art and independent projects, education and research; Investigación, a department dedicated to the research and analysis of contemporary culture; and Educación, an area committed to enhancing the visitor’s ability to understand and appreciate contemporary art.

Galería Jumex, Fundación Jumex Arte Contemporáneo
Vía Morelos 272
Colonia Santa María Tulpetlac
55400
Ecatepec De Morelos

www.fundacionjumex.org