http://www.31kproject.com/

Mexic-Arte Museum looks forward to collaborating with photographer Diego Huerta for the upcoming exhibition 31K Portraits for Peace opening January 27. Diego Huerta’s 31K project represents the over 31,000 people killed throughout the ongoing drug wars in Mexico. In the photography, there is no distinction between the sitter’s color of skin, social status, religion or political beliefs. Diego Huerta and project partner Daniela Gutiérrez have travelled throughout Mexico and arrived at cities like Guadalajara, Campeche, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Ciudad de México, Mazatlan, and Baja California.

For over 180 days Diego and Daniela have cataloged their project on both their website and Facebook pages providing followers with current photos and video diary excerpts from their national journeys throughout Mexico. 31K’s large-scale vivid photographs portray the breadth of lives lost and the hope for peace that still remains in Mexico. With each 31K photograph Diego presents the panoply of Mexican life. Each colorful image captures a vignette of the Mexican people from students, families, street performers, artisans, businessmen, and priests.

Diego’s photographs truly portray the color that constitutes the Mexican landscape and the cultural identity of the nation. The ironic part of this photographic journey is that although each sitter represents a drug-related death, the persons represented in each photo emit an overwhelming positivity. The images do not capture a solemn, somber nation that is mourning its tragedies but instead a people that evoke resiliency and triumph.

Mexic-Arte Museum will display selected vinyl photographs from the 31K Project as well as video excerpts from the 31K Project journey.The exhibition will not be confined to our inside walls.

Along our 5th Street exterior wall space we will continue the promotion of the 31K Project with a public display of vinyl photographs. Capital Metro Transit and Mexic-Arte Museum will be
collaborating with one hundred in bus placards, three small bus wraps, and exhibition advertisements at various bus stops throughout Austin.

Join us for our opening reception January 27 and follow Diego and Daniela’s 31K Project on their official website www.31kproject.com and on facebook.com/retratosporlapaz.