BARRIO ALTO
[ Uptown Neighborhood ]
Archival pigment print
13 x 13 inches / 33 x 33 cm
2012 - 2024
Barrio Alto delves into the intricate web binding real estate, construction, and socio-economic dynamics. This photographic series presents a narrative through meticulously crafted dioramas, assembled from the medium of cardboard. Each diorama unveils a unique scene, portraying disparities in the construction and cost of housing. The title, Barrio Alto, plays with ambiguity, signifying both an affluent neighborhood and a poverty-stricken favela. Rooted in this duality, the series prompts us to challenge preconceived notions about social and economic status, coaxing our contemplation of the ramifications of urban development and gentrification.
Within Barrio Alto, the lens captures the disparities in housing construction costs across different locales. It seeks to elucidate the role played by materials in sculpting these differences. The series' approach employs cardboard as its primary medium, amplifying the fragility and impermanence of the structures portrayed. This choice underscores the influence of materials in crafting the final product of human habitation.
The title, Barrio Alto, draws inspiration from the song of the same name by Victor Jara. It's a cover, translated into Spanish from the American original, "Little Boxes" by Malvina Reynolds. This anthem encapsulates the American dream of the early 1960s, illuminating cookie-cutter housing, its dependency on affordable materials, and its effect on society.
EXHIBITIONS
BARRIO ALTO
Coral Springs Museum of Art, Coral Springs, FL
Curated by Juliana Forero
Aug 1 - Oct 5, 2024
"Barrio Alto" offers a nuanced exploration of the complex relationship between real estate, construction, and socio-economic disparities. Through a series of meticulously crafted dioramas, each scene is brought to life using cardboard—a material that underscores the fragility and impermanence of the structures portrayed. These dioramas reveal the stark contrasts in housing construction and cost, inviting viewers to reflect on the broader implications of these differences.
The title, "Barrio Alto," is intentionally ambiguous, alluding to both a wealthy neighborhood and a struggling favela. This duality challenges us to reconsider our perceptions of social and economic status, highlighting the often-overlooked connections between wealth and poverty within urban spaces. The series delves into the impact of materials on construction, illustrating how they shape the final outcome of human habitation and the socio-economic divides within cities.
"Barrio Alto" does more than document disparities—it provokes a critical examination of urban development and gentrification, prompting us to question the forces that drive these processes. Through this work, the series seeks to illuminate the underlying tensions that define our built environment, encouraging a deeper understanding of the socio-economic dynamics that shape the world we live in.
Made possible with support from the Broward County Cultural Division. Support has been provided by the Community Foundation of Broward.
View on ArtsCalendar.
