Chicago Artist Spotlight | Cayla Birk: Cayla Birk "Take the Lot"

6 - 13 August 2024

  • It's in the Cards

    "Take the Lot" in Chicago
  • Artwork titled 'Las Floras' (2023) by Cayla Birk, featuring daisies in a jar against a yellow background. Artwork titled 'El Louis Duffle' (2023) by Cayla Birk, featuring a designer duffle bag against a red background, labeled with the number 54. Artwork titled 'El Tiburón' (2023) by Cayla Birk, featuring a rendition of Damien Hirst's stuffed shark against a red background, labeled with the number 91.

    Take the Lot

    By Cayla Birk

    Carousel Fine Art invites guests to immerse themselves in the captivating world of "It's in the Cards," a thought-provoking evening featuring her latest series, "Take the Lot."

    "Take the Lot" is Birk's visual exploration of Mexican Lotería cards, a cultural phenomenon that traces its roots to the early history of playing cards, specifically the popular Tarot game that has transcended time and borders since the 15th century.

  • Example of Mexican Loteria (Bingo), cards

    Lotería Cards

    Take the Lot

    This series depicts Lotería cards, a Mexican bingo-like game, stemming from the popular Tarot game that has  pervaded most parts of the world since the early 15th century. The imagery feels recognizable due to varying  cultures creating their own renditions of the game.

     

    Its early beginnings are rooted in Italian history with a  traditional deck of cards adjoining “face cards” having specific actions for each - as a predominantly gambling game,  the Church set out to create a less heretic version therefore spawning the “cards of divination” that allude to what  most people know as modern day Tarot. 

  • Through historical diaspora, the people of Mexico also adopted their own version of the infamous game: with the  cards being used as the “call numbers” found on differing “tablas” held by each player - quite similar to bingo. 

    Lotería in Spanish translates to lottery meaning it is a game of chance/luck. 

    With this context in mind, the body of work boasts objects that are not so easily earned. The juxtaposition of luck and the monetary success required to acquire such high-end assets is a recurring theme throughout the collection. 

     

    In  essence, you don’t accept the fate of luck, but instead make your own - you take the lot.

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  • Artwork titled 'El Hustle' (2023) by Cayla Birk, featuring cash against a yellow background. (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Artwork titled La 'Anxiety' (2023) by Cayla Birk, featuring Xanax pills against a blue background, labeled with the number 33. (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Artwork titled 'La Bolsa' (2023) by Cayla Birk, featuring a Birkin bag in a jar against a orange background. (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).