Viva la Revolución: A Dialogue with the Urban Landscape
- Project Address: Downtown San Diego
- Project Owner/ Developer: Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
- Owner Contact Name/ Email: Lucía Sanromán/lsanroman@mcasd.org
A multifaceted exhibition that explores the dialogue between artists and the urban landscape, Viva la Revolución: A Dialogue with the Urban Landscape features works both in the galleries of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego as well as at public sites throughout downtown San Diego. The exhibition includes a diverse range of 20 artists from 10 countries that are linked together by how their work addresses urban issues -- Akay (Sweden), Banksy (U.K.), Blu (Italy), Mark Bradford (U.S.), William Cordova (U.S.), Date Farmers (U.S.), Stephan Doitschinoff [CALMA] (Brazil), Dr. Lakra (Mexico), Dzine (Puerto Rico), David Ellis (U.S.), FAILE (Canada), Shepard Fairey (U.S.), Invader (France), JR (France), Barry McGee (U.S.), Ryan McGinness (U.S.), Moris (Mexico), Os Gemeos (Brazil), Swoon (U.S.), and Vhils (Portugal). Viva la Revolución: A Dialogue with the Urban Landscape changes the way we relate to the city. It is no longer a place where every element is tightly controlled by the city’s power structure or the businesses that support it. Until relatively recently, street artists have not only had to deal with the animosity of government officials and law enforcement, but also with the indifference of museums -- until now. Kudos to MCASD for having the vision and fortitude to be the first American museum to do an international street art show of this scale and scope. Because of MCASD's exemplary leadership, San Diego's built environment has been enhanced and it's residents and visitors have access to artistic experiences of the highest caliber. A bouquet of Orchids would hardly do justice to this extraordinary gift from MCASD. Viva la Revolución: A Dialogue with the Urban Landscape was curated by guest curator Pedro Alonzo and MCASD Associate Curator Lucía Sanromán.
Project Awarded
A bold, innovative and multifaceted exhibit featuring a diverse range of international artists linked together by a common focus on urban issues in their work. Located in downtown’s Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as on various walls around the city, Viva la Revolucion, curated by Pedro Alonso and Lucia Sanroman, has garnered national recognition. The exhibit’s commitment to street art as a movement represents an important turning point in its recognition in the art world. The exhibit blurs the lines between fine and street art, and examines how we relate to our city. The jury observed that “Graffiti has always been a part of the fabric of an urban city; and that's where the significance exists. It is compelling and engaging, and has spawned a public cultural iscourse and momentum that will continue to evolve. As part of the Viva la Revolucion exhibit, the jury felt strongly that Shepard Fairey’s Hillcrest mural in particular compels and engages the community, warranting an individual accolade. A juror stated that “his use of controversial iconography from the past and repurposing them as a sort of clip art, to make modern, edgy art is ingenious. In addition, all of the movements that he references deal with oppression of some kind - and he has made these images a celebration.”