Alejandro Santiago “Migrantes” (1964 – 2013)

He was skilled from childhood at drawing, painting and building. His work probes the bond between the physical aspect of awareness and that which we all share as human beings. He explores the ethical state of the art and basic questions of materials and human nature. Alejandro Santiago reflects on life, death, being and rebirth through many media, like bronze, ceramics, graphics, watercolour, oils, among others. His source of inspiration is always society.

His masterwork is the installation, 2501 Migrants, a piece that emerged from his return to Oaxaca after a three-year stay in France. To his surprise, on his arrival his old friends, neighbours and family had set out on the journey to the United States in search of a higher standard of living and better pay for their work. Beginning with his encounter with this situation in 2003, Alejandro decided to set out on the same journey as a migrant. On his return, this experience was the basis for the creation of the 2501 Migrants, which represents the people who lost their lives along the border, those who

Alejandro Santiago

abandoned their lands and himself, as human beings with the dream of achieving that which in their own cities they were deprived of.

To carry out this project Alejandro began hiring young people from town who could help him to produce Migrants. They were trained by Alejandro. An individual piece took around three days to produce; the complete project took seven years. This installation was shown at the World Forum of Cultures in Monterrey, Mexico in 2007.