Contra Flujo

Contra Flujo: Independence and Revolution

Opening Reception 5 - 7:30 pm, Thursday, August 26
August 26 - December 11, 2010 / Rubin Gallery

The Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center for the Visual Arts presented Contra Flujo: Independence and Revolution, an exhibition that featured seven contemporary artists from Mexico City who use new media to launch a contemporary exploration of the centennial of the Mexican Revolution and the bicentennial of Mexico’s independence. Contra Flujo means “against the flow”. The artists in this exhibition created pieces that directly engaged and challenged the discourse of progress that was being commemorated in the wave of celebrations that took place across Mexico during the year 2010. They confronted the viewer with nuanced explorations of contemporary life in Mexico, including pieces that investigated historical dialogue of revolutionary ideals, the role of the media in creating the Mexican imaginary, and the problematic of the U.S. Mexican border. The artists used a wide range of technology, including sound, video, kinetic sculpture and web-based pieces to create site-specific installations, including several cross-border art pieces commissioned specifically for this exhibition.

Contra Flujo: Independence and Revolution is co-curated by Rubin Center assistant director Kerry Doyle
and Karla Jasso of Laboratorio Arte Alameda, Mexico CIty

The Artists:

Arcangel Constantini

Ivan Abreu

Gilberto Esparza

Ivan Puig

Marcela Armas

Laura Valencia

Rogelio Sosa

This exhibition has been generously supported by The Consulate General of Mexico in El Paso, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Texas Commission on the Arts, ICHICULT, The Nimoy Foundation
and the Patricia Hewitt Silence Memorial Fund