'Pedro Reyes: DIRECT ACTION' at SITE, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

9 January 2023

From 3 February to 7 May 2023, SITE Santa Fe presents Pedro Reyes' solo exhibition 'DIRECT ACTION'. Nodding at forms of protest in which individuals use their own power to achieve political and social aims rather than appealing to authorities, this expansive exhibition explores art-as-activism through a selection of sculptures, prints, performance, and a newly commissioned video work.

Over the course of his career, he has developed and designed creative projects that propose playful solutions to social problems through a variety of media. Reyes’ formal sculpture and conceptual and participatory strategies seek to engage community through play, humor and optimism.

Central to the exhibition are the sculptural series Palas por Pistolas (2008) and Disarm (2013), born from the artist’s work in Culiacán, Mexico, and which see confiscated firearms transformed into shovels for tree planting and fully-playable musical instruments. Building on the artist’s ongoing Anti-Nuclear campaign launched in 2020, SITE Santa Fe commissioned Reyes’ new site-specific video This is how it ends (2022-23), featuring New Mexico voices addressing the subject of nuclear colonialism.

Opening celebrations for 'DIRECT ACTION' will take place on 3 February from 5–9pm, and Reyes will be in conversation with New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence president, Miranda Viscoli on 4 February.

Find full details here.

Pedro Reyes, Tlacuilo, 2021, Volcanic stone, Sculpture: 97 x 112 x 60 cm, Sculpture: 38 1/4 x 44 1/8 x 23 5/8 in © Pedro Reyes