Andy Medina Subverts Western Symbols in 'MEX I CAN' at John Doe Gallery

Stepping inside John Doe Gallery in Los Angeles immediately feels like stepping into a brightly lit urban intersection. Glowing road signs, metallic surfaces, and fragments of street ephemera crowd the space, mimicking the visual clutter of modern municipal transit. Yet upon closer inspection, the familiar geometry of urban warning signs shifts into something ancient and subversive: standard hazard symbols reemerge as the distinct silhouette of a Mesoamerican pyramid. This striking visual subversion anchors MEX I CAN, a solo exhibition by Oaxacan contemporary artist Andy Medina that reimagines Western iconography to assert the enduring power of Mexican identity.

Quick summary

• Oaxacan artist Andy Medina presents MEX I CAN at John Doe Gallery in Los Angeles, hijacking everyday street signs and consumer symbols.
• The exhibition features Medina's 'Superarme' project, which reinterprets the iconic Supreme box logo to explore overlapping histories and cultural pride.
• Tributes to legendary Mexican Formula 1 drivers Sergio "Checo" Pérez and Pedro Rodríguez expand the conversation into international motorsport and global competition.

Why it matters

In contemporary visual culture, symbols dictate how communities are perceived and where boundaries are drawn. Medina’s work intervenes directly in this symbolic landscape by transforming everyday infrastructure into canvases of cultural resilience. For Mexican and Mexican-American communities in the United States, who frequently navigate complex political pressures and cultural erasure, MEX I CAN serves as both a linguistic play on words and an empowering declaration. By placing ancient pre-Columbian motifs directly alongside modern commercial and municipal design, Medina demonstrates that Mexican identity is not a static artifact preserved in historical archives, but an active, adaptable force shaping global culture today.

Background

Hailing from Oaxaca, Mexico—a region deeply rooted in artistic traditions and indigenous heritage—Andy Medina has long centered his practice on dismantling and rebuilding cultural codes. Utilizing a broad range of media including signage, textiles, printmaking, and installation art, Medina engages in what critics refer to as visual "cultural jamming." Prior to MEX I CAN, his ongoing work focused on the tension between local traditions and globalized commercial iconography. By examining how public signs dictate movement and authority in urban environments, Medina identified an opportunity to hijack these universal forms, using them to channel pre-Columbian Mesoamerican history into contemporary dialogue.

Reclaiming Public Space Through Cultural Jamming

The centerpiece of Medina’s strategy in MEX I CAN lies in his ability to repurpose public street ephemera. In major metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, traffic signage serves as a universal visual language of regulation and caution. Medina subverts this authority by substituting standard warning imagery with ancient architecture, such as Mesoamerican step pyramids. By embedding historical indigenous geometry into reflective road signs, the artist effectively redirects public consciousness, turning routine urban symbols into markers of deep ancestral memory.

This method of cultural jamming allows Medina to critique how Western visual systems dominate the public sphere. Rather than creating isolated fine art objects, he utilizes materials that evoke everyday physical environments—reflective sheet metal, bold typography, and stark directional cues—making the dialogue around identity feel immediate and accessible to gallery visitors.

The 'Superarme' Project: Repurposing Streetwear Icons

Another major highlight of the exhibition is Medina’s Superarme series, which engages directly with global youth culture and streetwear aesthetics. The project appropriates the unmistakable red-and-white box logo of the global streetwear giant Supreme. However, Medina's objective extends far beyond simple parody or commercial satire. Instead, he uses the brand's immense global familiarity as a gateway to introduce complex linguistic and identity-focused commentary.

By replacing the corporate branding with his own carefully constructed wordplay, Medina spotlights the layered reality of living between cultures. The title Superarme—translating loosely to "overcoming" or "self-improvement" in Spanish—reflects the aspirations and economic realities of diaspora communities. Through this visual intervention, Medina highlights how contemporary Mexican culture continuously absorbs, adapts, and transforms global consumer trends into localized statements of pride and survival.

Speed, Heritage, and Motorsport Iconography

Extending his investigation beyond the street corner and consumer fashion, Medina also turns his focus toward high-speed global competition. Several works within MEX I CAN pay homage to prominent Mexican Formula 1 drivers, including historical figure Pedro Rodríguez and modern superstar Sergio "Checo" Pérez. Motorsport, historically dominated by European and North American narratives, serves as a dynamic backdrop for Medina to explore national representation on an international stage.

“The objective is to update the scope of Mexican culture and its profile in the world of competition,” Medina explained regarding his racing-focused pieces. By placing motor racing iconography in conversation with pre-Columbian heritage and urban signage, the artist challenges narrow stereotypes, framing Mexican talent and cultural identity as highly competitive, technologically integrated, and globally influential.

Qnews24h insight

Andy Medina’s MEX I CAN highlights a broader movement among contemporary Latin American artists who decline to treat heritage as a static museum relic. Instead of isolating indigenous traditions from modern life, Medina demonstrates that cultural survival depends on active, continuous hybridity. By targeting hyper-visible Western symbols—ranging from public traffic signs and luxury streetwear to elite motorsport logos—Medina exposes the fragility of corporate and municipal dominance. His work offers a compelling thesis: identity is not merely preserved by holding onto the past, but by boldly occupying the aesthetic spaces of the present.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the 'MEX I CAN' exhibition taking place?

The exhibition is hosted at John Doe Gallery, located at 107 E 11th St., Los Angeles, CA 90015.

What media does Andy Medina use in his artwork?

Andy Medina works across a wide range of mediums, including municipal signage, installation art, printmaking, textiles, and street ephemera.

What is the concept behind the title 'MEX I CAN'?

The title is a dual statement combining wordplay on "Mexican" and "Mexico can," highlighting the adaptability, resilience, and plurality of Mexican and Mexican-American identity.

Sources

• Hypebeast - Andy Medina Hijacks Western Symbols in ‘MEX I CAN’