HIS MORTAL REMAINS...
April 1 - 28, 2025
Gallery Talk with Philip Cartelli April 8 @ 4:15pm
The Union Gallery at Wagner College is pleased to present the first solo U.S. exhibition of artist filmmaker Philip Cartelli. This exhibit features his ongoing research into the mysterious fate of the remains of former Soviet leader Leon Trotsky. In addition to this exhibit, Cartelli's research so far has led to a lecture-performance ("Le fond du biscuit est rouge," 2024) and a feature length film (The Second Death, in progress). 
Cartelli’s practice involves the spectator in his journey of discovery and creation. His more recent work focuses on political issues, questioning how truths are formed and maintained, and exploring the limits of creating the world we want to live in or identities we seek to incarnate. His experience in political organizations and his interest in the space between ideologies and the strategies or practices they inspire shape this perspective.
In "His mortal remains...," Cartelli centers a rumor he initially doubted yet began to believe over time. In 2009, an anonymous manifesto claimed that a group of anarchists stole Trotsky's remains from their resting place in Mexico City, baked them into cookies as an act of revenge, and distributed them to political groups and the media. However, none of these entities confirms receiving said cookies. Visiting the scene of the crime, Cartelli discovered an inconsistency: the Trotsky Museum in Mexico denies knowledge of the act or its aftermath but also no longer has the urn containing his remains and cannot explain where it is.
"His mortal remains..." invites viewers to reconsider this story through found and original materials (including repurposed online and physical publications, images and objects), reflecting on the supposed thieves’ intention to intervene in history, bringing new meaning to barely submerged narratives. During his research, Cartelli uncovered another story in rural Mexico: artist Diego Rivera’s involvement in discovering the supposed alleged remains of the last Aztec emperor, Cuauhtémoc. Though the remains' authenticity is still debated by archeologists, they are widely accepted as genuine within the public imaginary. Inspired by Rivera's role, Cartelli worked with Mexican artisan Antonio Silva to create a traditional ex-voto and collaborated with singer/composer Daniela Olmedo to adapt a 1940 corrido about Trotsky’s assassination to include the more recent events.
By assembling materials that resemble, but do not replace, evidence, "His mortal remains..." explores the perennial relevance of myths and how we assign meaning to the past. Whether a true story or an urban legend, the exhibit question how a narrative can be brought to life without concrete proof, providing insight into this uneasy essence of political belief.
Artistic Direction: Zachary B. Feldman
