David Taylor’s Border Photography

February 3, 2014
Index Magazine

David Taylor’s Border Photography

David Taylor, Border Monument No. 227, 2009. Archival inkjet print. Courtesy of James Kelly Contemporary.

Beginning later this month, a selection of David Taylor’s photographs from his Working the Line project will be on view at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS) in Cambridge. In his multiyear two-part project, Taylor documents the boundary monuments marking the United States–Mexico border and the associated activities—border security, drug and human smuggling, and ongoing construction—that reflect the challenges of life on both sides. The exhibition at DRCLAS, which was curated by Michelle Lamunière, former John R. and Barbara Robinson Family Assistant Curator of Photography at the Harvard Art Museums, presents approximately 20 photographs of border monuments as well as examples of the daily events Taylor witnessed while capturing them. A video monitor will also show the artist’s photographs of all 276 monuments in a continuous loop.

David Taylor: Working the Line is on view February 26–May 9, 2014 at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard University, 1730 Cambridge Street, 2nd floor, Cambridge, MA. Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm.

The artist and the curator will give a guided tour of the exhibition during the opening night celebration on Wednesday, February 26, at 5:30pm. A reception follows. Please see our calendar for information about the accompanying panel discussion, Border Dynamics, on Thursday, February 27, and the Harvard Treasures Tour for our members on Friday, February 28.

The exhibition and related programming are presented by the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS) and the Harvard Art Museums and made possible in part by generous support from the Brillembourg and Brodsky Endowment Funds at DRCLAS. Modern and contemporary art programs are made possible in part by generous support from the Emily Rauh Pulitzer and Joseph Pulitzer Jr. Fund for Modern and Contemporary Art, Harvard Art Museums.

Note: This story has been updated to reflect the fact that the exhibition closing date has changed from May 18 to May 9.