Tijuana’s art scene is a mix of established artists and young, emerging talents. Independent galleries are now more common than in years past, yet it’s still difficult to pinpoint art that is uniquely Tijuana. “One of the things you’ll see is a freedom with materials, with subjects, with everything. Tijuana is not attached to tradition,” says artist Claudia Ramirez Martinez. “We don’t have a style, so that is the style.”
This month, Martinez joins forces with artist César Vázquez for “Limites/Boundaries,” a curated project to be shown at Art San Diego 2014 (November 6 through 9 at the Balboa Park Activity Center). The installation is a contemplation on physical and symbolic borders. Martinez interpreted Vázquez’ drawings in clay, sculpting human figurines in flight. The fragile beings are suspended from the ceiling with simple nylon thread and screws, according to Martinez.
“That’s the challenge for us: how to represent not just the border physically, but the idea of the border in our minds. The difference,” says Martinez, who also shows border-themed pieces at North Park’s Art Produce gallery.
“The border is something that we live in our daily life,” explains Vázquez. “There are a lot of contrasts. In just a few minutes you can visit another country, but it’s like another world to us.”
Vázquez’s main gallery is Nodo Galería, a Tijuana-based exhibit space he founded with artists Jonathan Ruiz de la Peña and Cheram Morales. Nodo Galería will also have booth space at Art San Diego.
Tijuana Art Comes to San Diego
Courtesy of Nodo gallery
