East Hudson Valley News

Dia Art Foundation has announced the presentation of "Echoes from the Borderlands: Study Two," an immersive sound piece created by Valeria Luiselli, Ricardo Giraldo, and Leo Heiblum. This multifaceted project explores the history of violence along the Mexico-United States border through a sonic journey that begins at the Pacific Ocean on the Tijuana-San Diego coast and extends eastward to the Gulf of Mexico. The exhibition will be on display at Dia Chelsea from December 11, 2024, to March 1, 2025.

Visitors are invited to experience this evocative narrative in four six-hour segments played consecutively during Dia Chelsea's opening days. Each segment is dedicated to one of the border states—California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas—allowing audiences to immerse themselves in this vast terrain marked by social, political, and economic disputes for centuries. In light of recent U.S. presidential elections in 2024, "Echoes from the Borderlands" addresses one of today's most pressing issues.

Jessica Morgan, Nathalie de Gunzburg Director at Dia Art Foundation said: “Our mission in Dia is to provide artists with the freedom and space necessary to create ambitious works that challenge artistic expression boundaries. 'Echoes from the Borderlands' fully embodies this mission."

The work is described by its creators as a "sound documentary-fiction" combining voices from those who inhabit these lands with new soundscapes designed specifically for this presentation at Dia. Visitors can delve into an extensive audio archive recorded along the border and interviews with locals.

Humberto Moro, Deputy Director of Program at Dia said: “Echoes from the Borderlands brings forward stories and experiences lived in border areas."

Kamilah Foreman added: “The voices in Echoes from the Borderlands weave deep historical and contemporary narratives about borders.”

Alongside this exhibition at Dia Chelsea is a book written by Luiselli, Giraldo, and Heiblum titled "Study One: Call You When I Get Home." It serves as a libretto adding narrative threads to complement their sound work.

Curated by Kamilah N. Foreman and Humberto Moro under Economou Exhibition Fund support; organized alongside Institute for Studies on Latin American Art (ISLAA); developed across multiple institutions including Harvard University's ArtLab; supported generously by Laurie Gunst & Karen Yamashita.