Galería de la Raza presents The Invisible Nation, a multimedia solo exhibition exploring
the spiritual, dramatic, and deeply human dimensions of migration. Cartagena’s installation will be based on video and photographic portraits of immigrant residents, as well as 1970 and 80’s photos from Latin American archives that the artist has collected over the years. The installation will
explore the evocative power of the emblematic black and white passport photos frequently
used in Latin America to identify individuals in official documents and obituaries. Cartagena’s work is informed through an exploration of topics such as public health, labor, education, family history, cultural adjustment, displacement, language, memory, loss, and survival. Through these lenses, the artist visually articulates and explores multiple aspects of the immigrant experience, which leads the viewer to an understanding of the harsh reality met by immigrants upon entering the United States. Through multiple layers, Cartagena’s installation seeks to counter the dehumanizing and reductive representations of immigrant issues in the media. Invisible Nation will also include a temporary computer-generated mural project specifically designed for our 10 ft. x 24 ft. billboard at 24th and Bryant Street. The billboard, placed on public display at a highly trafficked corridor in the Mission District brings these controversial issues of migration to a larger audience whose lives are inevitably affected by them. Through Cartagena’s culturally specificity, the iconic quality of his work both inside and outside the Gallery walls will bring to mind a quintessential experience of contemporary
life in the age of globalization and mass migration. Through both subtle and blatant avenues, The Invisible Nation responds to the unresolved discussion on immigration policy and to the rising tide of an antiimmigrant sentiment across the country. Historically, socially engaged art has regularly been a galvanizing force within the Latino community. Using a variety of approaches, we will provide an engaging context to expand this necessary public discourse on immigration. Cartagena’s installation and public art components will address the complexity of the subject through a compelling
artistic and visual experience that can spark an open discussion of this topic among the general public.