Jul. 1 @ 8:00 am – Jul. 31 @ 5:00 pm
About the Artist
Rafael Blando is a photographer that for the past twelve years has visited and photographed more than thirty countries. Nowadays he explores the visual language trough appropriation & re-contextualization of diverse objects found in journeys and flea markets. He uses photography and a commercial scanner as his main medium for this exploration, along with the intervention of currency paper. His photographs are included in several private collections like ITESM Campus Laguna and Regional Museum of la Laguna. He was born in Mexico City in 1982. He received an Electronic Systems Engineering degree from Monterrey Institute of Technology & Superior Studies; during that time he took an extracurricular photography workshop. In 2019 he studied the postgraduate degree for the Professionalization of Contemporary Arts Practices (DIPPRACC) at the Visual Arts Center in Autonomous University of Coahuila. In 2022 he participated in Fotoseptember Festival organized by “Centro de la Imagen” with the exhibition “Sedimentation of waste”. In 2021 he was selected at the Tijuana Triennial: I. Pictoric International Art and exhibited along 142 artists from 13 countries at Cultural Center of Tijuana (CECUT). In 2018 he was invited to a solo exhibit in Foto-Coahuila and Julio Torri International Arts Festival with the work titled “Horizons”. He has exhibited his work in museums like the Coin Museum from the Bank of Mexico (2019) in Torreon, Mexico; Ex Convent of Carmen (2012) in Guadalajara, México and the Regional Museum of la Laguna (2011) in Torreon, Mexico. In 2017 he was nominated to “Lunas del Auditorio” by his collaboration with “My land” documentary. From 2015 to 2017 he published illustrated travel chronicles in “Siglo Nuevo” magazine from “El Siglo de Torreon” newspaper.
Artist Statement
“I’m currently interested in the construction of the image and the latency of its meaning. I find special interest in concepts like national identity and collective memory and how both relate within hegemonic discourses present in the iconography of what we use as an exchange value.
Besides photography I’m interested in the pictorial possibilities of new visual languages to me, like: engraving, drawing, collage and the intervention of paper currency. My work operates within the interstices located between the visual language and what we appoint as reality; it is inside these hollow spaces where I intertwine approximations to reality and where the first traces of identity form.
I was born in Mexico City, I spent my childhood in South Central Mexico (Guadalajara) then I emigrated North (Torreon) in my adolescence. Due to economic and social circumstances I emigrated further north to work, and ever since I have labored in U.S.A. within Mexican territory; with all the benefits and conflicts that this entails. My personal journey has been a clash between two ideologies, North versus South, that intent to mediate in the formation of one identity; my work is the by-product of that conciliation.”
Artists have the opportunity to sell their art on the Changarrito cart in front of the Museum (or an offsite location, as representative for the Museum during various Austin festivals). Changarreando expands the reach of the artist by presenting their gallery online, while allowing the option to sell merch over Instagram and receive 100% of the sale.
Rafael Brando will be at the Mexic-Arte Museum featuring his artwork on the Changarrito cart right outside the Museum’s entrance on July 20th, 21st, 27th & 28th from 12-3PM.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates on original work available for purchase and behind the scenes of the artist’s work, space, and creative process.
Changarrito Instagram Live Interview – 7/25 @5pm
You’re invited to Mexic-Arte Museum’s Changarrito Instagram Live event with artist Rafael Blando, taking place virtually through the Museum’s Instagram account @mexic_arte! Isabel Servantez, Mexic-Arte Museum’s Curator of Exhibitions and Director Of Programs, will facilitate the virtual event with a series of questions directed at the artist including a Q&A taking place during the last 20 minutes of the event.