Thinking the field of Mexican fine art was limited enough for him to gain an encyclopedic knowledge of it in a short time, Penn grad Harry Pollak resolved to combine his love of travel with his passion for art and start his own collection. Little did he know that a country with thousands of years of artistic history could produce so much. Thus he entered "The Labyrinth" that is Mexican art.
Pollak's eclectic mix of painting and sculpture, representing a century of Mexican artwork, is presented in a series of non sequiturs. Alfredo Casta¤eda's self portrait features an angled, disembodied head and hangs next to Woman Dancing With Donkey.
The pieces are evocative and unique, most relying on a dark, warm palette. Several hail from the impressionist genre while others have more of a folk-art bent. And with the Arthur Ross Gallery's convenient location, it's hard to resist the temptation of well-hung, flute-playing donkeys.
"Travels in the Labyrinth: Mexican Art in the Pollak Collection" will be on display until December 9 at the Arthur Ross Gallery in the Fisher Fine Arts Library.
