Photographers Explore Latinidad In New Santa Monica Exhibit

SANTA MONICA, CA – A new exhibition called "Latinidad in Focus: Sin Fronteras" will be at the Annenberg Community Beach House. Presented by Santa Monica Cultural Affairs, the exhibition features artists Marilyn Montufar, Enio Hernandez and Vanessa Briones.

The exhibition, on view from May 10 through September 6, seeks to further the dialogue about immigration and immigrant culture through the presentation of communities, stories, and individuals’ backgrounds, both in Los Angeles and abroad, according to a City of Santa Monica press release.

“The experience of photographing communities throughout Mexico opened a window to my own heritage and has allowed me to share a different reality than what is portrayed in mainstream media,” Artist Marilyn Montufar said.

This group of photographers document Latino communities in the United States and in Latin America, reflecting on the current political climate as well as on their experiences as first-generation Americans and exploring identities forged in a multinational context, the press release said.

“My work draws inspiration from urbanism, nature, and the multiplicity of cultural identities that inhabit them,” Enio Hernandez said.

Enio Hernandez captures the natural landscape and individuals’ relationship to their environment in their homelands of Colombia, Brazil, and Guatemala. Marilyn Montufar photographs acquaintances and friends, currently focusing on communities in Los Angeles and Mexico. Her intention is to give a voice and a face to people marginalized by society – individuals on the social, economic and racial peripheries, according to the press release. Vanessa Briones captures beauty in the banal, utilizing subject matter and color palettes that blur the boundaries of traditional and contemporary modes of Latino representation.

“I like to create a dreamlike quality and sense of nostalgia in my photographs that transport the viewer to another time period,” Briones said.

The opening reception is Thursday, May 10 from 6 to 8 p.m., and will feature a DJ and light refreshments. Although this is a free event, tickets are required. For ticketing and other information, click here.

Photo 1: Dos Hermanos by Enio Hernandez; Photo 2: Elise by Marilyn Montufar; Photo 3: In Bloom by Vanessa Briones