Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective

"Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective" is an exhibition encompassing almost three decades of work by Mexican artists Einar and Jamex de la Torre. These mixed-media glass sculptures represent a unique and ever-changing view through a kaleidoscope. They reflect the complexities of the immigrant experience and the contradicting bicultural identities that propel narrative and aesthetic practices. The art employs concepts of time, religion, tradition, regional distinctions, and personal experiences, which are combined to expand our perceptions of cultural identity.

Given the complexity of their narrative and the visual exuberance of the art, finding a spatial organization and palette that would enhance the brothers' vision required a multi-faceted graphic strategy. The design uses longer views and windows to create connections between pop culture and religious iconography. The installation is about the pleasure of discovery and a celebration of a shared humanity that transcends borders.

The spatial organization places an extensive, freestanding orthogonal system of horizontal and vertical planes at the gallery's center. Additional displays with rectilinear plinths and planes at the perimeter reinforce two other curatorial themes. The color palette employs shades of yellow and ochre throughout, articulated by white highlights, edges, and interpretive texts. These golden, buttery tones are in dialogue with the artwork's vibrant coloration. The display armature incorporates framing devices and carefully proportioned plinths to highlight the geometric force of glass forms and organic themes and help activate the many lenticular works that playfully toggle between images as one moves around the gallery. The armature provides intentional peeks between themes and artworks.

To entice visitors to walk about the gallery, an overlay of stylized calligraphic letters dances at different heights, signaling curatorial moments or themes. The letters of "Collidoscope" are dispersed with a soft grey tonality, a counterpoint to the colorful detail of the glass. They set long vistas adjacent to pullout quotes and section texts for the visitor's journey. All texts are in Spanish and English, displayed side by side rather than vertically to avoid unintentional hierarchy.