In the run-up to a new exhibition at Marres, House for Contemporary Culture in Maastricht, director Valentijn Byvanck interviews participating artists, performers and curators.

For the exhibition ‘Vultures & Fireflies’ by Mexican artist Alejandro Galván, he sits down with co-curator Tonatiuh López. Among others, they are a freelance curator, writer, researcher, and member of the Ecatepec Contemporary Art Museum (MArCE) and Circo Crico collectives.

Vultures & Fireflies is a Divina Commedia of the raw existence in the Mexican city of Nezahualcóyotl, brought to life through paintings, transfer prints, sculptures, and film. In this powerful chronicle of Mexico, Galván merges elements from tabloid news, comic books, heavy metal, and folklore. His work appears to restore balance in a world marked by injustice and corruption—what Galván calls a vivid dream of Mexican society. A book of the same name was published alongside the exhibition.

Vultures & Fireflies is on view until 31 August 2025 at Marres, Maastricht.

With: Tonatiuh López

Interviewer: Valentijn Byvanck

Podcast edit: Caspar Stalenhoef

Podcast recording: Hout Video