Mexican art exhibitions address forced disappearances

Artistic exhibitions in Mexico are utilizing multidisciplinary media to address the issue of forced disappearances and honor the memory of victims.

In Silao, Guanajuato, the Universidad Iberoamericana León hosted “Caminar el cuerpo desaparecido” by artist Fabiola Rayas Chávez. Developed in collaboration with the RedLab (Laboratorio de Resistencias contra las Desapariciones) and the collective Familiares Caminando por Justicia, the exhibition uses textiles and writing to highlight the stories of missing persons and the ongoing search efforts of their families.

Additionally, visual artist Alexia Zúñiga is presenting “Tierra Caliente” at Casa Garita. The project, which includes an exhibition and a photobook, stems from the 2018 disappearance of her brother, Christian Zúñiga. The work combines documentary, testimonial, and dreamlike elements to create a visual testimony of grief and forced displacement.

Both projects coincide with the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, serving as acts of resistance and memory through art.