The Other Side, 1997

Using a room with a bank of windows at the ReinCarnation Project in downtown San Diego, David Lamelas constructed The Other Side (El Otro Lado). Dividing the room in half with a fifth wall, Lamelas plunged one side of the room into total darkness, while leaving the second half full of natural light from the windows. Lamelas then cut a small hole in the fifth wall at eye level, allowing a single shaft of light to beam through into the darkness. Viewers could approach the room from either side of the fifth wall and peer into the dark or light side of the space. Underscoring the division of resources and rights between powers, Lamelas created his own border zone of privileged and unprivileged spaces.

Curators: Jessica Bradley, Olivier Debroise, Ivo Mesquita, and Sally Yard
Venue: The ReinCarnation Project, San Diego

Orhan Ayyüce