Tijuana Triennial: I. Pictoric International Art


What is?

The Tijuana Triennial: Pictoric International Art is painting contest that seeks to exhibit new approaches to the discipline from artist around the world. It’s an invitation to meditate on the possibilities and potentialities of painting as a creative and communicative medium.

How it came to be?

The event is born from the mind of Alvaro Blancarte, who proposed a contest, celebrated every three years, that gather the best of international painting and appeal to the region artistic community to reflect on their oeuvre, explore new ways and work side-by-side with artist from other parts of the world.

Joining to these efforts, art specialists Roberto Rosique and Heriberto Yepez helped to define the contest guidelines and philosophy, looking to expand the event to a wide array of activities, beyond the exhibition, for the sake of getting the artist message across a wide audience.

Why does it define itself as “Pictoric International Art”?

For the event organizers (CECUT and the Organizing Committee) is of the utmost importance that, along with inviting the artistic community around the globe, we position Tijuana as the place where art is constantly debated, questioned, reflected upon, and evolve; showing our regions’ malleable and innovating character. That’s why is stablished as an International event.

Taking into consider how the pictorial discipline has changed, is necessary to stop and meditate on what innovating means, on the possibilities presented by painting, and what we can do with a pictorial artwork. The Tijuana Triennial invites its participants to think on the essence of painting, to understand everything we can do within this discipline, and explore to the limits of our creativity. That’s why is stablished as a Pictoric Art event.

What are its goals?

The Tijuana Triennial: Pictoric International Art short-term goals are: to invite the artistic community worldwide to meditate on what painting means and to participate in this contest; to present an exhibition of pictorial artworks that invites the public to engage on contemporary art debates; and to support artistic creation through three monetary prizes for the winners.

Its medium-term goals are: to generate an event that goes beyond the gallery walls and have echoes on a wide array of activities through the region (and beyond that, with the help of digital tools); and to maintain its own relevance to held future editions. Lastly, its long-term goals are: to position Tijuana into the global art stage as a place of evolving art; to invite the younger generations to think about art and create art of its own; and to become one of the most important events to discuss contemporary art in Mexico.