The Spectacle of the Poor: Libres y Lokas at Domy Books [Art Preview]

In a city geographically and culturally close to Mexico, Austin sees a fair amount of influence from our south of the border neighbors reflected in the art exhibits around town. Pump Project recently displayed a Lucha Libre mask collection, and the Mexic-Arte Museum is wrapping up their twenty-fifth anniversary show featuring an impressive exhibit of art, masks, and artifacts from their permanent collection. What we are shown often reflects the elite of Mexican culture - the professionally lit and theatrically staged Lucha that gets international TV coverage, or the well studied works of Diego Rivera and Arturo Garcia Bustos. The new exhibit Libres y Lokas opening this Saturday at Domy Books provides us with a glimpse of the polar opposite. The gritty documentary is the result of a collaboration between OTIS IKE and Ivete Lucas, both photographers and filmmakers who have landed in Austin to study their craft.

Libres y Lokas follows two distinct groups of performers from Monterrey, the lucha libre wrestlers and transgendered queens. Both of the documented groups live in extreme poverty, using much of the little money they make from their performances to buy more costumes, make-up, and other items that help develop their stage persona. Far from the glamor of either the upper echelon of Lucha or the glitz of drag shows as we know them, the images that OTIS IKE and Lucas are raw and often bloody. For the exhibit, the artists have constructed installations that mirror the environmental elements that naturally surround their subjects. Libres y Lokas features large photographs, wall sculptures, video installations, and architectural pieces.

Saturday's opening of Libres y Lokas promises not to be your typical wine and cheese art opening; the gallery will be open from 7-9pm after which the celebration will head over to Charlies (1301 Lavaca) for a Tranny Show from 10pm-2am. Local favorites Kelly Kline, Jame Perry, Nacha Type, and others will perform.

Libres y Lokas: El Espetaculo de la Pobreza runs through September 3rd at Domy Books.