The Laredo Center for the Arts hosts the opening tonight of The Border Project (fronterizo) by Julio César Obscura, an ongoing immersive VR (virtual reality) experience across a virtual frontera that explores the bi-cultural, socio-political presence of the U.S.-Mexican border. The event opens at 6 p.m. and is open to the public.
With the help of the artist’s home community, locals share an array of stories in Spanglish with their symbolic identity and the unique experiences that come along with living on this frontera.
Drawing on elements from the landscape, ambient sounds from the area, reconstructed objects, and architecture using photo grammetry, Laredo U.S. and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico come alive in this ten-minute experimental journey.
The experience challenges a political border while exploring an array of personal border stories in Spanglish. They will be on view August 4 through August 20, Tuesday through Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m.
A panel discussion with Obscura and Carlos Flores will begin at 7 p.m. on opening night.
About the Artist:
Julio Cesar Obscura is a Mexican-American artist based In Washington, D.C.
His work explores and documents the complex weaving of identity, immigration, climate change, politics, and cultural heritage.
Obscura’s multi-disciplanary practice is research-led and aims to expose sociopolitical conflict and inequality via story-driven design. Obscura has previously held various creative roles in national politics and currently works as a freelance artist
He is a Royal Society of Arts fellow, the first and former Fulbright Scholar at Royal College of art in London where he received an MA. He holds a BA from Texas A& M International University
The Laredo Center for the Arts is located downtown at 500 Flores.
