Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Border Tuner/Sintonizador fronterizo

Production | Acquisition Grant

Conceived as a large-scale participatory artwork connecting communities on either side of the United States-Mexico border, Border Tuner will put voice-activated spotlights in motion to create a powerful poeticization of cross-cultural dialogue. The installation consists of six interactive stations, three in El Paso, Texas, and three in Juárez, Mexico. Building upon Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s previous voice activated public works, Border Tuner will enable participants to control massive searchlights visible from a 10-mile radius with their voice, visualizing conversations on either side of the border and creating bridges of light that transcend the wall. Border Tuner encourages the general public to engage in dialogue, and is designed to magnify and foster extensive community partnerships. For more than a year, the artist and curators conducted site visits and held meetings with community stakeholders in order to produce an authentic public program. The resulting array of poetic, musical, and artistic offerings presented nightly reflects not only the richness of regional talent but also the values and concerns of borderland residents. Invited to “tune in” to salient themes such as land, immigration, food, and culture, each night’s performers will elevate the tone for the evening before opening the stations to the general public. From there, participants will be free to approach the lecterns and speak, modulating their messages in order to connect with voices across the border.