El Niño: detail of sculpture arms holding broken bottles

For inSITE97 Einar and Jamex de la Torre constructed "El Niño," a monumental pyramid based on pre-Hispanic design and iconography. The vinyl and glass structure was installed in the lobby of the CECUT in Tijuana, juxtaposing the contemporary architecture of the space with the ancient motifs on the pyramid. El Nino incorporated symbolism of the demigod that is part holy child, part weather demon, with the El Sexenio, the six year presidential term that prompts cycles of havoc/progress in the Mexican economy. The interior of the pyramid was visible through glass staircases on the sides of the pyramid, revealing plaster statues of Jesus in a womblike cavern. "El Niño" captured the intersection of different traditions and lifestyles within the Mexican region that create a hybridization of culture. --inSITE97

• 1997

• Rittermann, Philipp Scholz (American photographer, 1955 CE-)

• Torre, Einar de la (Mexican sculptor and installation artist, born 1963)
• Torre, Jamex de la (Mexican sculptor and installation artist, born 1960)

• InSITE97

This image is a scan of a 35mm color slide from the InSite Archive (MSS 707, Box 309, Folder 03, Item 084)

Centro Cultural Tijuana

glass (material); vinyl; aluminum cans; fake fur; plaster; metal; wood (plant material)

• InSITE97

• Mexican-American border region

• Installations (visual works)
• Sculpture (visual work)

• Arms (animal components)
• Border art
• Boundaries
• Hearts (motifs)
• Infants
• Pyramids
• Signs and symbols

• image

Shared Shelf: 16715365

Online finding aid

• inSite Archive

Sculpture and Installations

[Title, Date]. InSite Archive. MSS 707. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

Unknown (US)

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2020-10-28