Patricia Espinosa, a Mexican visual artist residing in Brooklyn, New York, draws inspiration from the traditional game of Lotería to create contemporary images that reflect Mexico's current situation. Her work addresses not only traditional themes and icons but also political and social events she finds troubling or relevant and feels compelled to express (hence the project's title). The cards are initially created as paintings using watercolor, acrylic, Indian ink, and mixed media on paper, in a 60 cm x 46 cm format. They are then digitized and prepared for use as a playable deck.
Mexican-Canadian novelist Martha Bátiz, based in Toronto, collaborated with Espinosa to compose the coplas (short rhymes) that accompany each card, written in both English and Spanish. The result is an artistic project that is visual, literary, and socially critical, as well as a playable game following the same rules as the original.
The Project: La chance parle. Given that the theme for Nuit blanche in Montreal 2025 will be "pop" culture, this interactive exhibition, which recreates one of Mexico's most popular traditional games, proves to be not only relevant but also ideal. Game sessions will be held every hour throughout the night, allowing the audience to view the exhibition and also participate in the game.
At previous venues, the winner of the game received a copy of the original Lotería as a prize, encouraging participation and making the event more entertaining. Updated cards and coplas are always available on the La Lotería Opina website (www.laloteriaopina.com) and on social media under the handle @LaLoteriaOpina.
Contests and performances will take place in the gallery of the Mexican Cultural Institute in Montreal/Espacio México, located at 2055 Peel Street. This multidisciplinary space is part of the Consulate General of Mexico in Montreal.
Photo credit: Patricia Espinosa
