La Fábrica Subin: Where Art, Architecture, Music & Design Meet
Yucatán’s growing art scene welcomes La Fábrica Subin, a new cultural space founded by internationally acclaimed artist and designer Laura Kirar beside historic Hacienda Subin. In 2009, Kirar and her husband, Richard Frazier, discovered Hacienda Subincancab in ruins and embarked on an ambitious restoration, bringing together historic architecture, contemporary design, and Mexican craftsmanship. Now, Kirar is opening a new chapter with La Fábrica Subin, transforming the estate’s former henequen factory into a vibrant cultural space where art, performance, and creative minds converge. The project beautifully bridges Yucatán’s architectural past with its evolving contemporary art scene, giving new purpose to a remarkable piece of the region’s heritage.
Opening on Thanksgiving, November 26, 2026, in its inaugural four-month program, La Fábrica Subin’s Exquisite Encrucijada (Exquisite Crossroads), brings together international artists, performances, film, music, and installations. Running parallel to the Bienal de Yucatán, the project further positions Mérida as an emerging destination for contemporary art, design, and cultural tourism.
What’s Happening on November 26?
– Art, Performance & an Unforgettable Thanksgiving Feast
The inaugural celebration promises an evening that engages all the senses, from experimental film and sculpture to electronic music and an intimate, long-table Thanksgiving dinner. International artists, musicians, filmmakers, and culinary talent will come together for a distinctive evening of art, conversation, and gastronomy, setting the tone for the creative experiences to follow throughout the season.
ON THE SCHEDULE FOR OPENING NIGHT:
Film: Jonas Rosefeldt
Berlin-based artist and filmmaker Jonas Rosefeldt will present two films exploring contemporary society, desire, and the human experience. Deep Gold, a black-and-white film, revisits Luis Buñuel’s L’Âge d’Or, examining themes of desire, social constraint, and economic inequality. Euphoria, also on view during the opening weekend, explores capitalism through voices drawn from more than two thousand years of economic and philosophical thought. Together, the films invite audiences to consider the social and economic forces that shape contemporary life.
Sculpture & Performance: Laura Kirar
Laura Kirar will present Calling, a sculptural activation from her GLYPH series of large-scale raku ceramic works. Created in Mérida and Cuernavaca, the installation incorporates ceramic vessels holding liquid and fire, connected through natural materials and kinetic metal cymbals. Through touch, movement, and sound, the work explores the relationship between material, ritual, and sensory experience. The installation reflects Kirar’s interest in creating art that engages multiple senses and invites audiences to participate rather than simply observe.
Gastronomy & Music
Food and music will also play an important role in the opening celebration, bringing another dimension to the artistic experience. Chef Mariana Villegas, founder of Mexico City’s acclaimed Lina restaurant and a former executive chef of Contramar, Entremar, and Cala, will create a culinary experience emphasizing flavor, color, aroma, and texture. Alejandro Dávila, a DJ, broadcaster, and cultural producer with more than three decades of experience in Mexico’s electronic music and contemporary art scenes, will provide the music. The evening will also feature an inaugural toast hosted by Casa Dragones, the Mexican tequila brand known for its artisanal approach and contemporary vision.
La Fábrica Subin: Upcoming Art & Performance Program
Following the November opening, La Fábrica Subin will continue its inaugural season with an international lineup of artists and performers.
December 2026: Katinka Kleijn
Dutch-born cellist and interdisciplinary artist Katinka Kleijn, a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and International Contemporary Ensemble, will begin an artist residency at Hacienda Subin. Her work moves between improvisation, composition, and performance art, exploring the relationships between sound, materials, architecture, weather, and landscape. During her residency, Kleijn will experiment with the unique environment of Hacienda Subin to develop new work. Her creative process will culminate in a project shaped by the property’s architecture and natural surroundings.
January 2027: Carla Romero Sans & Mariana Mendívil
Barcelona-born singer and songwriter Carla Romero Sans, known as Carn Crua, will present The Desert of the Bathtub, a thirty-minute performance from Laura Kirar’s surrealist opera-in-development, Exquisite Corpse Continuum. Combining voice looping, poetry, and theatrical gesture, the performance explores transformation and unconventional storytelling. Mexican filmmaker and visual artist Mariana Mendívil will also present her analog collage work, examining memory, identity, and transformation through found imagery and experimental techniques. Together, these artists bring distinctive approaches to contemporary performance and visual storytelling.
February 2027: Kieren Gadhia & Rebekah Heller
Writer Kieren Gadhia, author of An Antidote to Me: Essays on Being and Becoming Whole, will explore themes of consciousness, selfhood, and personal transformation through prose, poetry, and philosophical reflection. Bassoonist, conductor, and composer Rebekah Heller will perform selections from Righteous Rage, a project expanding the bassoon’s possibilities from a solo instrument into an ensemble voice. The performance includes works by Julius Eastman, Steve Reich, Jessie Cox, Fay Victor, and Brittany J. Green. These presentations conclude the inaugural season with a combination of literary exploration and experimental contemporary music.
Mérida’s Growing Reputation as an International Art & Cultural Destination
The opening of La Fábrica Subin comes at an important moment for Yucatán’s cultural development. The inaugural Bienal de Yucatán, taking place from November 26, 2026, through February 28, 2027, will bring together 76 artists from Mexico and around the world across 16 venues in Mérida and Maní. Running parallel to the Bienal, La Fábrica Subin adds another dimension to the region’s contemporary art scene, creating additional opportunities for international artists, collectors, cultural travelers, and creative professionals to discover Yucatán. Together, these initiatives have the potential to strengthen Mérida’s position on the international cultural map.
And the benefits could extend well beyond the art world. One of our hopes at MID CityBeat is that events of this caliber will encourage more visitors to discover Yucatán, stay longer, support local artists and businesses, and experience everything this remarkable region has to offer.
Visit La Fábrica Subin in Yucatán
Location: La Fábrica Subin, beside Hacienda Subin, Yucatán, Mexico
Inaugural opening: November 26, 2026
Opening program: Exquisite Encrucijada
Season: November 2026 – February 2027
Featuring: Contemporary art, film, music, artist residencies, installations, performances, and gastronomy
For reservations and tickets to the inaugural night: https://lafabricasubin.com/gatherings
For more information: lafabricasubin.com
Follow MID CityBeat for more on Mérida’s art exhibitions, cultural events, restaurants, architecture, and unique experiences throughout Yucatán.
