OAXIFORNIA

OAXIFORNIA, directed by Raul Cabra, was a three week long project at California College of the Arts. We worked together with local artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico, to develop new possibilities and new idea, using traditional Mexican materials. The project served as a great way to bridge some cultural tension between Mexico and the United States: many Mexicans feel that the US culture is invading the traditional quality of life, yet Mexicans need to work in the United States to survive financially. In the last day of the project, we had an exhibition in downtown Oaxaca.

OAXIFORNIAはRaul Cabraが率いるCalifornia Collage of the Artsの3週間のプロジェクト。MexicoのOaxacaに住む現地の職人の方々と共同制作を行うことで、新たな発想と伝統素材を混ぜ合わせ、あたらしい可能性を見いだした。特にアメリカという大国に隣接し、現地の伝統文化が徐々に浸食され生活の糧を失い、皮肉にもアメリカへ出稼ぎを強いられているメキシコという国が持つジレンマを乗り越えるためのきっかけとなったにちがいない。最終日にはダウンタウンにて展示会を行い、現地の関係者、文化人などが集い大盛況を得た。