FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1994
House-Turned-Art Exhibit Is Blockaded On Opening Day
* X An illustration of La Moira, a mysterious house in the story of the same name, is part of the decor of the Comicasa in Mexico City
By BLANCA ROBLEDA The News Staff Reporter
The Comicasa La Moira, a Mexico City house that was transformed by 60 local artists into a real life version of the gory mystery story "La Moira," was blocked off by precinct official Wednesday, just before it was to open to the public. Official responded to complaints from the local neighbors assembly about the house, which is located on Jose Vasconcelos 125, Colonia San Miguel Chapultepec. Painter Cid Suard told The News Thursday that neighbors assembly leader Maria Cristina de Boloņa objects to the project because "it's not art," and because the artists need a special commercial license. Artists are currently negotiating with officials from the precinct to have the place opened for at least for one day, possibly next Saturday, said painter Erick Fritsche. "We are waiting for their response and if they do not give in to this request we will go to the Human Rights Commission," said Fritsche, who added that the person who was living in the house was forced to leave. The house re-creates the life and nightmares of Marco, the central character in "La Moira." Born with a hideous mark on his face, Marco was put in an orphanage at age 5 years old. Companions at the orphanage challenge Marco to enter La Moira, an abandoned house known because all the people who had lived in it had mysteriously died. Human embryos, bristling cats, bottles, gallows are depicted on the walls and ceilings that surround Marco, Sandra (Marco's girlfriend) and the Man in Gray, who is constantly following Marco. Officials from the precinct misunderstood the art "experiment," as artists called it, and believed that is was going to be set up for commercial purposes and not as as cultural project, Fritsche said. "We were not going to charge for the entrance," he said. Walls, ceilings, doors and every available place inside the house were used by cartoonists, actors, photographers, musicians and video-makes to re-create their impressions of Erick Merino's story "La Moira."