Yehimi Cambrón has a beautiful art piece on display at the Atlanta Contemporary
A swarm of butterflies has completely transformed a part of the Atlanta Contemporary. One thousand, nine hundred and sixty-six to be exact! The creatures overpower the confining exhibition space, inviting the viewer to pause and hear the voices of those who have been harmed by Georgia’s Stewart Detention Center (SDC).
#ChingaLaMigra is the name of the exhibition, inviting viewers to reflect the complexity and full humanity of each person who has survived SDC, and/or continues to resist from within. The butterflies are individually water-colored in lightened tones, and cut by hand to highlight the beautiful message.
The Atlantan detention center is one of the largest and deadliest immigration detention centers in the country. It’s operated by a private prison company in contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In the touching exhibit, the black butterflies represent all those who lost their lives at the center. They’re tightly packed in to not only personify immigration detention, but to enhance the collective power of strength and untouchable resilience.
This installation was created by Yehimi Cambrón, in collaboration with El Refugio and Detention Watch Network. For more information on how to take action, visit yehimicambron.com/activist.
See also: ‘Garden Lights, Holiday Nights’ Returns To The Atlanta Botanical Garden This November
You can see #ChingaLaMigra on display until January 9, 2022 at the Atlanta Contemporary, located at 535 Means St NW, 30318.
Featured Image: Atlanta Contemporary