A Creepy Bunny, a Missing Head and the Art of Remembering

Luis Alonso Sánchez recalls a childhood moment that haunts him: at four years old, an Easter bunny costume ripped off its head to reveal a human inside. He describes the scene as “very creepy,” a rupture between illusion and exposure that has shaped his artistic language.

The Exhibition

Venue: Bread & Salt, San Diego
Title: Sweet Dreams
Duration: Through the end of August

The show comprises around 23 works—paintings, sculptures, drawings, pixelated art—and includes an immersive installation and a video piece. Sánchez uses diverse media to spark conversation about the geopolitical context surrounding the U.S.–Mexico border.

Themes and Influences

Memory & Dreams: Sánchez says the exhibition is “about memory” and the tension between dreams and nightmares.
Anthropomorphism: He examines how humans are animalized and animals humanized, drawing on painting history.
Religious Motifs: The Easter bunny episode intertwines with crucifixion studies, reflecting his Catholic upbringing and current secular perspective.
Pop Culture: References to Felix the Cat, Lola Bunny, and other cartoon figures underscore the ubiquity of these images across cities like LA, New York, and Madrid.

Residency Impact

During his 2024 Bread & Salt IMPACT residency, Sánchez produced a sculpture inspired by Edvard Munch’s The Scream, linking personal fear with broader geopolitical anxieties. He describes the piece as a “study of what I was thinking back then,” connecting personal nightmares to collective concerns.

Border as Atmosphere

Sánchez frames the border not as a fixed line but as an invisible atmosphere shaped by memory, desire, restriction, and imagination. He discusses how his work is influenced by his movement between Tijuana and Mexico City, where churches and colonial heritage inform his practice.

Collaborations & Process

Co‑director Jairo Antonio Hoyos helped conceptualize the show, emphasizing that “the fence ends where the idea of division starts.”
Cultural References: They drew inspiration from horror films (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4), music (Linkin Park’s “Crawling”), and classic cartoons.

Public Engagement

Sánchez will host a free artist talk at the Logan Heights space on Saturday, 7 p.m., discussing his exhibition and the interplay of dreams, nightmares, and border memories.

Contact

Gallery: Sala de Espera (Tijuana)
Curator: Encarte Galeria (Mexico City)