MUTEK Mexico: 20 years of artistic collaborations between Québec and Mexico

From October 7 to 20, the 20th edition of MUTEK Mexico brought together local and international artists in a program focused on digital innovation and electronic music.

Celebrating its two decades, the event highlighted immersive works and live performances that captured the attention of a curious audience, while giving special attention to international collaborations, notably with Canadian and Quebec artists.

Festival: 20 years of digital innovation and artistic collaborations

The A/Visions 1 series, presented at InSpace, provided an opportunity to explore immersive visual and sonic creations, with a notable contribution from Quebec and Canadian artists.

One of the highlights of the edition was A/Visions 2, held at the Diego Rivera / Anahuacali Museum, which showcased Suzanne Ciani, a pioneer of electronic music, as well as a collaborative performance between Norwegian saxophonist Bendik Giske and Mexican choreographer Diego Vega Solorza. The evening was also marked by a performance from multi-instrumentalist David August, with scenography by Theresa Baumgartner.

The Play series began at the Centro Cultural Español with an entirely Mexican lineup, then continued outdoors, offering moments of experimental and contemplative music accessible to the general public.

The Nocturne 360 evenings, held at the Maravilla Studios, transformed the space into stages for performances and exhibitions, while incorporating meditation and relaxation areas, creating a more complete experience for participants. These moments brought together international artists, including 11 Quebec and Canadian projects, further strengthening the artistic exchanges fostered by MUTEK.

Quebec and Canadian Artists: A Creative Presence at the Heart of Mexico

The 20th edition of MUTEK Mexico provided an exceptional showcase for 11 Quebec and Canadian artists, reflecting the diversity and innovation of the digital and audiovisual scenes from these regions. Among them, Ali Phi, Sahar Homami, and Claire Kenway & Patrick Trudeau presented an immersive installation at InSpace. Deadbeat, known for his precise selection of dub-techno, and Debashis Sinha enriched the musical program with their respective soundscapes.

The duo Flabbergast offered a danceable musical performance on the final night. At the same time, the trio Honeydrip, Emma Forgues & King Shadrock paid homage to reggae with their Psychotropical performances, while Iregular impressed with his interactive work FACES. Martin Messier presented his performance 1 drop, 1000 years, once again mesmerizing the audience. Myriam Boucher captivated the crowd with her visual compositions alongside Mexican sound artist Octopic.

Finally, the performance by Tati Au Miel added an experimental dimension to this edition, highlighting the importance of Quebec and Canadian artists within the framework of this cultural collaboration.

Professional Component: Strengthening Ties Between Quebec and Mexico

On the professional side, the Digi Lab PRO initiative facilitated exchanges between creators and professionals. A Quebec delegation, coordinated by XN Québec in collaboration with MUTEK Montreal as part of the Effet Québec initiative, participated in discussions and B2B meetings with Mexican stakeholders.

Supported by the Ministry of Culture and Communications, SODEC, the Quebec General Delegation in Mexico, and Investissement Québec International, this delegation helped strengthen ties between the two regions, paving the way for new collaborations in digital arts and event production.

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The final chapter of Future Festivals, our initiative to reimagine the role and responsibilities of festivals, was held via videoconference between Mexico and Winnipeg, once again marking the cooperation between Mexico and Canada. The event brought together artists and experts for discussions and a roundtable, concluding with a call to create networks of festivals that are ecologically and socially responsible.

This 20th edition of MUTEK Mexico highlighted the importance of cultural exchanges between Quebec and Mexico, demonstrating the role that MUTEK has played in building bridges between artistic communities for over two decades.