A Happy Unboxing

Last week at the unveiling of Gaitan’s Antojitos Box by Joel Gaitan, the artist invited us to reconnect with our inner child at his exhibition En El Corazón Del Infierno, En Las Alturas Del Cielo at KDR in Allapattah.

The gallery’s pastel green walls and pink floor took us back to 1980s Miami. There, we gathered as Joel welcomed members, artists, and friends into one of his most profound memories, revisiting and reimagining the joy he felt going to McDonald's as a child—the anticipation, the delight of the Happy Meal, and, most notably, the treasure of the toy within. As Joel puts it, this reward was the highlight of the experience.

Through this unique revealing, he shared a piece of his heart and reminded us of the pure, unadulterated joy of simple pleasures. Joel’s sculptures represent a cross-cultural study of the ancient and contemporary. “Liberating terracotta vessels to their exalted position and keeping with themes found in sacred traditional Mesoamerican artifacts,” the work is both accessible and precious. 

Joel explains, “The series is painted with 14K gold, but it’s not that deep. My mom used to sell jewelry out of the house.” In this way, we understand the significance of lived experience and cultural identity for the artist within a larger centuries-old context. What does it mean to follow your ancestors' tradition and make vessels with your hands? How do we shape narratives that reflect our heritage and our present moment? For the artist, the practice is a personal exploration of his Nicaraguan roots and his upbringing in Miami, Florida—an opportunity to write his own story. 

Overwhelming gratitude to Joel Gaitan for trusting our community. Thank you to Katia David Rosenthal, the KDR team, DJ Berraka, Amanda Fisher, Joanna Davila, Gregory Pierrelouis, Claudia Des Rosiers, New World School of the Arts students Sofia Metcalf and Veronica Gort, curatorial partner Primary, and creative director Mariana Pariani for bringing Gaitan’s Antojito’s Box concept to life. We value the entire Commissioner team for their thoughtful partnership. Big love and gratitude to everyone for coming out to show their support. Photos by Monica McGivern.