‘Replica’ by Gerardo Suter relates to the 1985 Earthquake in Mexico City, the most devastating earthquake in the history of the Americas. Suter used approximately five seconds of one of the first images broadcast on the day of the earthquake. The text which is relayed across the screen is the initial response from Carlos Monsivais documenting his experience of the tragedy.
Carlos Monsivais is a cultural historian, known for his chronicles of life in Mexico and specifically its capital Mexico City. Both Suter and Monsivais have focused much of their work on the history and culture of Mexico.
‘Replica’ is a visual and intellectual perception of extreme moments that, under special circumstances, became minutes, hours or days. As a result of this earthquake, according to official Government statistics, over 9,000 people were killed, 30,000 injured, and 100,000 left homeless. 416 buildings were destroyed and over 3,000 seriously damaged.
Gerardo Suter has a specific interest in his artistic practice to convey notions of silence and emptiness through photography and video. The documentary style to this film work allows for a sense of hyper-reality, as the destructive force of the earthquake is felt within the cityscape.
Suter’s work has been exhibited in Mexico and abroad; in 1996, he represented Mexico at the São Paulo Biennial and his work can be found in numerous international collections. Born in Argentina, Suter has lived in Mexico since 1970.