The Art Newspaper: What are you most looking forward to this year during Zona Maco?
Jaime Gorozpe: The galleries put in a lot of effort to open their best shows during Zona Maco. So, on Monday, even before the fair starts, I plan my gallery-hopping and go to all the openings.
If you could have any work from any museum in the world, what would it be?
I would love the Alberto Giacometti sculptures from the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, outside Copenhagen. Imagine living with a Giacometti in your home? The proportions are perfect; it’s timeless, it’s unique. Of course, I would also love to have a Richard Serra in my garden. But a Giacometti is more discreet, and if you move from one country to another you can always bring it with you.
The Giacomettis at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art top Gorozpe’s fantasy acquisition wishlist Photo: Kim Hansen; Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Which are some of your favourite galleries in Mexico City?
Well, I used to be a partner at Travesía Cuatro. I love their programme and I adore my business partners. And also Galería de Arte Mexicano (Gam). I always visit Gam’s stand at Zona Maco because they always bring jewels: a little Rufino Tamayo, the perfect Diego Rivera, the perfect David Alfaro Siqueiros. It’s all Modern art and it’s such an elegant gallery.
How quickly do you decide to buy a work of art?
Sometimes it’s immediate—instantaneous. But if something captivates my eye, I will do research. I think your eye has to be captivated, and then the second thing is to do some research and get to know what you’re buying.
What was the first piece of art you acquired?
My first important purchase was around 20 years ago, when I was young and broke. It was a huge Thomas Ruff photograph from David Zwirner. I remember thinking “How am I going to pay for this? I cannot afford it.” So, they let me pay in instalments. I kept it at my flat in New York for years and then, when I sold the apartment, it was so big and complicated to move, the guy who bought the apartment said “Would you mind if I buy the photograph?” And I said “Perfect, because there’s no way to take it out.” So, it’s still in that flat in New York.
What was the last piece of art you acquired?
Two months ago in Paris, at what used to be called the Biennale des Antiquaires [now FAB Paris], from Rosenberg & Co Gallery from New York, I bought a piece from 1931 by José de Creeft, a Spanish-born, New York-based artist who died more than 40 years ago. He did the famous Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park. I bought a work on canvas by him that is absolutely to die for; it’s a bit Cubist, it looks a bit like an early Lee Lozano. It’s so pretty.
What do you regret not buying when you had the chance?
Two pieces come to mind. One was a Carmen Herrera through Lisson Gallery, back around 2007. I loved her work from the first time I saw it; it is so elegant. I convinced a friend of mine to buy one for $100,000—it’s probably worth $1m now—then I said to myself, “Next month I’m gonna check if I can buy either a work on paper or work on canvas.” I never got it and now it’s kind of impossible. Secondly, a gallery in New York offered me for basically nothing a Date Painting by On Kawara. The price was $50,000, now they’re around $500,000—but I didn’t buy it.
Where are your favourite places to eat and drink in Mexico City?
There is a new super-cool place at La Roma, which is from the
same owners as Hugo. It’s called No Name (Sin Nombre) because they haven’t named it yet. I’ve been there three times since it opened in late November. And the number-one restaurant in Mexico for me—in terms of quality of food, the crowd and the location—is Havre 77. It’s from the same owners as Máximo Bistrot, but Máximo is for tourists now. Havre 77 is for locals. It’s delicious.
What is your least favourite thing about art fairs?
They’ve become too social. You cannot concentrate on what you really want to see or the reason why you’re there. You’re gonna spend 90% of your time saying “Hi” to everyone. It starts to feel like a 2,000-person wedding.
What tips would you give to someone visiting Mexico City for the first time?
Book things in advance, whether you want to do museums, galleries or a culinary tour. And don’t try to do too many things in the same day. Traffic in the city can be a nightmare, so focus on certain areas. You cannot say “Let’s go to the Museo Anahuacalli, then to Casa Luis Barragán and then we’ll go to Zona Maco.” You will spend 80% of the day inside a car.
