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LOTERÍA

An Interactive Exhibition

PROJECT STATUS UPDATE · SPRING 2025

Exhibition: May 2 & 3 · Movement Lab

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THE CONCEPT

La Lotería is a game of community, something that feels especially meaningful at a time when communities are under threat.

THE MEDIUM

La Lotería, reclaimed from its European origins, reimagined as a celebration of real Mexican people living in New York City.

THE METHOD

Participants choose their own Loteria identity (like El Valiente). Photographed in studio, on their own terms, how they want to be seen.

THE MESSAGE

Visibility and humanity for Latin American communities, informed by the current realities facing immigrants in the U.S.

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THE INSPIRATION

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THE INSTALLATION

INTERACTIVE PROJECTION

  • Portraits projected as Lotería cards in the Movement Lab
  • Microsoft Kinect V2 depth cameras track viewer distance
  • Cards appear & disappear as viewers move through the space
  • Approaching a card flips it to reveal the portrait
  • Audio plays, the subject speaks about their chosen identity

LIVE LOTERÍA ROUNDS

  • Dedicated table space for live game rounds
  • Reimagined deck
  • Rubber stamp art for card text & numbers
  • Hand-painted canvas backdrops used as room texture
  • Card backs designed by a Mexican artist

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THE PARTICIPANTS

Mexicans living in New York City, each choosing their own Lotería identity.

CONFIRMED

Bridget Magyar

Queer Mexican vintage clothing store owner, photographer & sex worker. Discovered through a Latina Valentine's Day Market TikTok.

CONFIRMED

Pascual's Flower Shop

The owners of a Mexican flower shop, a couple from Mexico and Ecuador.

IN CONVERSATION

Robbie Romero

Lucha libre fighter. Bringing the theatricality and pride of Mexican wrestling.

IN CONVERSATION

The Puppeteer

A Mexican puppeteer. Identity to be chosen together.

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TOUCHDESIGNER BUILD

✓ WORKING

  • 54-card data table (card_state)
  • Flip state machine: 6 states, auto-flip back at 2.8s
  • Card images & card back loaded into GLSL renderer
  • Mouse input pipeline fully remapped to canvas coordinates

→ UP NEXT

  • Feed card_state into GLSL shader via data texture
  • Replace hardcoded grid with live card positions
  • Card front/back flip with UV compression animation
  • Kinect V2 depth input replacing mouse trigger
  • Window COMP → fullscreen projection output (1280×720)

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TIMELINE & NEXT STEPS

Ongoing

Photo Sessions

Aiming for at least 13 subjects.

Mar 7–21

Spring Break Window

Reshoots if needed + still life experiments

Ongoing

Tech Build

Complete GLSL data pipeline → Kinect integration

Ongoing

Card Artist

Source Mexican artist for card back design

May 2

Exhibition Day 1

1–2 PM · Movement Lab

May 3

Exhibition Day 2

6–7 PM · Movement Lab