The Proposal

Known as “the artist among architects,” Luis Barragán is among the world’s most celebrated architects of the 20th century. Upon his death in 1988, much of his work was locked away in a Swiss bunker, hidden from the world’s view. According to rumor, this rich and invaluable archive was purchased as a wedding present to a wealthy businessman’s wife, who is now the sole administrator of the archive, guarding it mercilessly against anyone who tries to make use of it. In an attempt to resurrect Barragán’s life and art, boundary redefining artist Jill Magid creates a daring proposition that becomes a fascinating artwork in itself – a high-wire act of negotiation that explores how far an artist will go to democratize access to art. Reminiscent of a cosmopolitan thriller, “The Proposal” is a masterfully directed endeavour that keeps its cards close to its chest until the very end.