Marcos Ramírez ERRE was born in Mexico, is a resident of the United States and considered one of the most significant artists in the San Diego/Tijuana region.
His work is informed by a profound understanding of border culture and his exhibition "Playing Series Serious" will be on view at the San Diego State University Downtown Gallery through January 26, 2015. The exhibition uses humor and bite to test the limits of cognition and draw attention to what is hiding in plain sight in words and sign puzzles.
About the exhibition
Known by his pen name “ERRE” (the sound of the Spanish double R letter), his painting, sculptures and large-scale public art installations draw attention to politically charged situations.
The paintings and sculpture in "Playing Series Serious" transform passive viewers into active participants by incorporating wordplay in familiar formats such as: crossword, word-search and Sudoku puzzles; labyrinths and mazes; and an over-sized chess game. The viewer is challenged to resolve the puzzle and word-game that often imply political statements juxtaposed with the grammatical dissolution into image.
Locally, ERRE is known for his 1997 site-specific installation of a two-headed metal and wooden horse that straddled the U.S.-Mexico border in Tijuana/San Diego. The horse referenced Virgil’s Trojan Horse and faced North and South, signifying the interdependence of the two cultures.
About ERRE
ERRE is a formally-trained attorney, skilled carpenter and self-taught artist whose practice includes performance, installation, sculpture, billboards, photography, video and painting. He has participated in residencies, lectures and numerous collective exhibitions in Mexico, the United States, Russia, China, France, Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Chile, Colombia, Argentina and Brazil.
About SDSU's Downtown Gallery
SDSU’s Downtown Gallery is located at 725 W. Broadway at the corner of Kettner Boulevard and W. Broadway. The Gallery is open Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit the gallery website or call 619-501-6370.