Visiones Nocturnas: Queer Nightlife in Contemporary Art at the Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla

 by Patricia Frischer

Andes Payan Estrada

The cross-border theme is an essential part of the San Diego art environment. Although the New York disco scene is one that most people of heard of with dance clubs, dive bars and bathhouses, this show is all about the queer nightlife  of the Latine and Latin American  community. The works in the show are from 1990 to the present and stretch along the border from El Paseo to San Diego with documentation of Los Angeles and as far north as San Francisco.

There are painting, photography, sculpture, textile, collage, video, but you have to use your imagination if you want to fill the space with gyrating half nude figures dancing the night away. Even with the encouragement to come onto the checkerboard dance floor and follow the video’s contained energy, or wonder through the silk curtains of the Visiones Nocturnas, the space seemed empty, and maybe it is that sense of emptiness that is a commentary on the angst of being a queer Latine.  The show was conceived by Andres Payan Estrada and curated at MCASD by Amy Crum. The opening reception party surely gave a whole new upbeat vibe to the exhibition. 

Andes Payan Estrada, detail

Installation view

Joey Terrill

Isa Ybarra

Juan Arango Palacios

Martine Gutierrez's clubbing video

Visiones Nocturnas: Queer Nightlife in Contemporary Art
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego 
On view until Jan 10, 2027
700 Prospect St.,La Jolla, CA 92037
Thursday—Saturday: 11AM—7PM, Sunday: 11AM—5PM
Free every second Sunday and third Thursday of the month