Iris Aggeler

Iris Aggeler (born December 1, 1971, in Mexico City) is a teacher, writer, visual artist, and activist in Mexico. Aggeler is know with several stage names, pen names, as: Ra'al Ki Victorieux, Iris Atma, and Iris México. She received support from the National Fund for Culture and the Arts, FONCA, in the area of painting in 2000. She was awarded the heritage research support scholarship by the State Fund for Culture and the Arts, Chiapas, Foesca, in 1998. She has presented her work nationally and internationally, collectively and individually. She has more than twenty published books and hundreds of articles in the cultural press. She has also made albums of poetry and music, and has been called the "priestess of rock". Her work explores memory, values, social psychology, and the spiritual. In performance she pioneers the notion of exploring identity through multiple alter egos. She is one of the most prolific women artists of her generation in Mexico and in Ibero-America. She has achieved complex interdisciplinarity in her multidisciplinary work. She is one of the distinguished women of Chiapas, as published by Sergio Alejandro López Ruiz in the press. ARCO DATA Latin America, a project of Arco, has documented her artwork. She has received the support of the media and specialized critics.
Personal life
Her maternal great-grandfather, Joseph Aggeler, emigrated from Switzerland to Mexico, with his wife, Theresia Schneider, a German. Her great-grandmother is originally from the Baden-Württemberg region. Her maternal grandmother, Laura Borrallez, has ancestors from Catalonia, Spain. Her mother, Martha Aggeler, wanted her daughter to be a model; as a result. early in her career Iris studied modeling, makeup, and modern dance.
Iris Aggeler was born in Mexico City. She nevertheless spent most of her childhood in Tapachula, Chiapas. As an adult, she settled in Guadalajara and Oaxaca, where she carried out many cultural promotion activities. She currently lives in Mexico City. She and her mother have addressed an open letter to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and to the authorities asking for a Patrimony Law, related to the human right to housing.
Studies
Aggeler first studied mathematical physics in Chiapas. She then moved to Mexico City, where she studied at the La Esmeralda, National School of Painting, Sculpture and Engraving, from 1991 to 1994, the same school that housed great Mexican creators such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Agustín Lazo, Francisco Zúñiga. She learned history and art techniques. She also has experience and qualifications in writing, fashion design, independent cinema, public administration, and administration of civil society organizations. Likewise, he has taken courses with various protagonists of the arts and culture, including Manuel Ahumada, creator of comics.
Art education
Aggeler has worked for more than thirty years in art education. She has given diplomas, workshops, and conferences. She has also created the proposal for the Schneider Method for the Development of Consciousness in Art Teaching. She has taught at universities and cultural institutions in Mexico City and in the interior of the Mexican Republic. The author "has developed a methodology that combines art, aesthetic, critical and historical theory, with multimedia and digital communication processes, adding her spiritual teachings such as the practice of meditation, tarot, and kabbalah, resulting in a workshop holistic for the stimulation of aesthetic appreciation."
Author
Since 1994, she published books and articles related to art, culture, personal and spiritual development, and social justice. Cultural journalist, she has had art criticism columns, such as Armería in the Magazine Escáner Cultural, from Chile, and also in national media such as lapalabra.com in Mexico, columnasur.com and estesur.com in Chiapas. Likewise, he has published texts in the magazines ExCéntrica Generación, etc.
Bibliography
*Un Tostón de Arte Mexicano 2005; Addenda 11, Cenidiap, INBA.
*Radio. Reflexiones de Amor y Trascendencia 2018;
*Si vis Amari, Ama. Si quieres ser amado ama 2018;
*Semper Victrix. Arte de Protección Espiritual 2019;
*Arte. Educación Artística, Teoría, Gestión Cultural y Psicología Social 2019;
*@rte. Arte y la Red. Comunicación y Aprendizaje con Multimedios 2019;
*Enseñanza. Historia y Valores en la Educación Artística 2019;
*XIX Esfinge Solar. Memorias de Vamp Iris Atma Ra. Mujer & Romance 2019;
*Meditaciones y Poesía. Libro de Horas para Nutrir el Alma 2020;
*VIII Aikya. Memorias de "Spicy", Hmädi Iris México Valparaíso. Activismo en el Arte por la Libertad y la Unidad 2020;
*Quino. Humor Libertario 2020;
*Intenso Amor. Poema Epistolar para Meditar y Sanar las Emociones 2020;
*México. Artes Visuales 1950-2000 2021;
*Prensa en Español. Directorio de Medios de Comunicación 2021;
*Gracia. Bendiciones de Amor, Gracia y Trascendencia 2021;
*¡A Jugar! Corazón. Juego de Mesa para Imprimir, y Aprender Inteligencia Emocional 2018;
*Ilumina Mandalas. Libro de Actividades para Peques 2021;
*Pasión por México : Arte de Iris México por la Libertad 2022;
English translations
*XIX Solar Sphinx. Memories of Vamp Iris Atma Ra. Woman & Romance, 2019,
*VIII Aikya. Memories of "Spicy" Hmädi Iris México Valparaíso. Activism in Art for Freedom and Unity, 2020,
Art exhibitions
Aggeler has undertaken work in painting, engraving, photography, installation, conceptual art, public art and performance. She has held national and international exhibitions in the Americas and Europe.
International exhibitions
Her work has been presented individually and collectively in Brazil, Peru, Panama, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Canada, the United States, Slovakia, Spain, Austria, and Germany.
She was invited as a participant via streaming to the IV Biennial Deformes 2012. From Presence to Absence, in Chile.
In 2010, she participated in Amerikan Kinetics, a video art exhibition from Latin America in Galerie CapitalGold, at Düsseldorf, Germany. The curator was the Brazilian Nicholas Petrus, and he presented videos of 17 artists from 6 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and Peru.
We can mention the group show of 2004, entitled "Under the skin of the Jaguar - 11 positions of the current Art of Chiapas and Oaxaca", held at the Palais Pálffy Austrian Cultural Center. This exhibition was inaugurated by the Secretary of the Economy of Mexico, Fernando Canales Clariond. Among the participants were Arturo Avendaño, Dolores Ávila, Manuel Cunjamá López, Norberto García Benítez, Rafael Araujo, Manuel Velázquez, Hugo Huitzilopóchtli, Vicente Mesinas, Sebastián Sántiz Gómez and Juan Ramón Lemus.
In 2000, she epresented Mexico at the international art meeting Slovensko - Mexiko, held at Mojmírovce Castle, in Slovakia. Artists such as Eliz Olivella, John Tierney, Eugene Ilatovsky, and Tiffany Riley were present.
As a descendant of the area of Baden-Württemberg, when she visited her relatives on 2000, she was able to present an exhibition in the town hall of Neufra, Germany.
Solo shows
During 2019, the artist presented Semper Victrix at the Museo del Policía, and Arte para el amor. (Art for Love) at the Instituto Nacional del Derecho de Autor.
In 2018, she presented Gewissen (Consciousness) at the Casa de la Cultura de Santa María la Ribera. Pasión del Alma at Faro de Oriente. Savia. (Sap) at Casa de Cultura de San Rafael, in Mexico City. During the same year, at the state of Puebla, she showed Anima Victrix at Casa Conejx, and Hilar (to Spin) at Barrio del Artista. Also, she presented three solo shows at Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico state: Epica Espiral (Epic Spiral), at Biblioteca Dr. Jaime Torres Bodet, Corazón de Dragón (Dragon heart) at Casa del Poeta las Dos Fridas, and MAIA at Cemuaa.
In 2017, the artist showed Ineffabilis (Ineffable) at Casa de Cultura de Tepito, and Florecer (to flourish). Laberinto Cultural SantaMA, Mexico City.
Ostara was presented in 2015 at Centro Cultural Futurama. Gratias Agere (Thank You All) was her 2013 show at Locatl Galería. In 2012, Total Romance was at Centro Cultural Gertrudis Sánchez, ELOM at Casa de Cultura Velasco, and Arte, Espiritualidad y Pensamiento Complejo (Art, Spirituality and Complex Thought) at Legislative Assembly of Mexico City, Mexico City.
In 2006, the Gallery Punto y Línea, Contemporary Art, organized a solo show of Aggeler's works in Oaxaca.
In 2004 and 2005, her work was displayed at the First and Second Erotic Festival in Mexico City.
In 2004, during the celebration of the 500 years of the national anthem,
the Legislative Palace of San Lázaro presented Passion for Mexico, a controversial event, and a manifesto for the freedom of the use of national symbols in art.
Aggeler's work has been the subject of solo exhibitions including Amor mío in 2003 in Gallery Masmédula, México City, In 2001 she had Passion, a solo exhibition at the Ramón Alva de la Canal University Gallery, of the Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa. and at the University of Sciences and Arts of Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas.
In 2000, the Gallery Nancy Canseco, at Teatro Macedonio Alcalá, Instituto Oaxaqueño de las Culturas hosted Passion, and the Gallery Rodolfo Morales, at the Cultural Center Ricardo Flores Magón of the ISSSTE, displayed La Soledad Sonora, at Oaxaca. She also had a solo show at the town hall of Neufra, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
In 1999, she presented "Azul" (Blue), a multidisciplinary project of painting, performance and installation in: Gallery Diuxhi, Oaxaca. Teatro Ignacio de la Llave, Orizaba, Veracruz. Teatro de la Ciudad. Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas. She also showed an photography project at Gallery Miguel Cabrera, Teatro Macedonio Alcalá. Oaxaca.
Also in 1999, she presented La Soledad Sonora at Museum Hermila Domínguez, Cultural Center Rosario Castellanos. Comitán, Chiapas. In 1996, her drawing art show was entitled Trazos, at Casa de Cultura de Tapachula, Chiapas. And her photo project Apariciones Cotidianas was presented at the University Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, and the Casa de Cultura. Tapachula, Chiapas. A painting show, titled Retratos de La Perla was presented at Archeological Museum of the Soconusco, Tapachula, Chiapas.
In 1995, Ángel, Humano y Divino (painting), and Huellas del Tiempo. (photo) were at Chiapas Autonomous University, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Comitán, and San Cristobal, Chiapas.
Her fist solo shows were in 1994:
*Huellas del Tiempo. (Traces of Time) City Theater "Emilio Rabasa", Tuxtla Gutiérrez and Exconvent of Santo Domingo, Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas.
* Apariciones Cotidianas (Daily Appearance). British Chapel, Mexico City.
* Mística Alada (Winged Mystic). House of Culture «Honduras», Mexico City.
* Photography of the Fortnight. Work selected on several occasions. INBAL
Group Shows
She participated in the collective exhibition 'Libertades', within the context of the celebrations of the Bicentennial of the Independence and Centennial of the Revolution of Mexico, during 2010, in the Museum of the Old Palace of the Archbishopric of the Ministry of Finance.
She was selected for Artoficio, a cultural television show, focused on artists with a career, which also culminated in a collective exhibition at the National Center for the Arts.
In 1999, she worked on an epistolary art project, with love letters, with which he was part of the Meeting of Non-Object Arts in Chiapas. The journalist Mónica Mayer commented that Iris' letters had to be answered with a tone as passionate as that of the artist.
She was part of the so-called "The Last Expedition of the Century" in 1998, that is, a project in which various intellectuals and artists from Chiapas traveled to the Selva Lacandona to create work broadening awareness of the importance of the conservation of this green lung. Also in the group were Mario Nandayapa, Raúl Vera, Jorge Mandujano, Luis Fernández, Elsa Jiménez, David Rodríguez Patiño, Bulmaro Narcia and Marco Fonz, among others. As a result of this experience, the artist created a series of encaustic paintings titled "Azul".
Art and activism
Her work in support of human rights is a manifestation of goodwill and inclusion through art. An example is from 2013, when Aggeler presented the performance in favor of the Hikikomoris, to expose the dramatic reality of the so-called "Absent Million" in Japan, and symbolically send hope and light. She also has work in favor of life, and to bring light to the soul of those victims of capital punishment.
She has also supported women's rights to eroticism, love, and to justice, as when she showed solidarity with Pussy Riot, the Russian group that was arrested and imprisoned for a performance. Likewise, she has added her voice to the efforts of groups that work to make their rights visible, such as the migrant community, the LGBT,
As a symbolic act of support from Mexico to Sahrawi; she collaborated with drawings in the Art Book for Sahrawi Children “Sand Castles”; with ilustrations by artists of international recognition such as José Luis Cuevas, Nahum Zenil, Gabriel Macotela, Eloy Tarcisio, Iris Atma and Rolando de la Rosa, among others.
Her actions in favor of freedom of expression in art are numerous. Another topic of her interest is whether culture and education have enough public funding. Peace is a cause that moves her actions and works.
Awards
Aggeler received a prize from the National Fund for Culture and the Arts, FONCA, in the area of painting, in 2000. She was also awarded a scholarship in support of heritage research, by the State Fund for Culture and the Arts of Chiapas, Foesca, in 1998.
Further reading
*Alcázar, J. Fuentes, F. Performance y arte-acción en América Latina. ExTeresa. Ediciones sin nombre. Citru. México. 2005.
*Hijar, A. Arte, multitud, contrapoder. Colección Abrevian. Cenidiap. Cenart. INBA. México. 2005

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