Honey, the Chimaeras are sneezing.

Born in Mexico City, Sergio S. Beltrán García is not quite an architect, not quite a musician, not quite a filmmaker, but all of these and many other disciplines in between. This is why he identifies with the Chimera: not quite one creature or another, not quite truth nor lie. His work has flown him to various latitudes for a multitude of purposes: be it to speak at a conference at an Indonesian university, to film youth exposed to gang violence near Caribbean waters, or understanding Modernism's commandments in abandoned Berliner factories, to name just a few. Whichever the tool to be used may be, Sergio's intentions are consistent in one way: a genuine and heartfelt desire to contribute to social justice, human rights and resilient development, guided by humanitarian principles. He has over 4 years of experience working with this sector. Sergio enjoys working with all flavours of people, and is keen on keeping his time busy with innovative projects. Here is a short collection of his recent and not so recent works. He is currently based in Mexico City. @ssbeltran on Twitter

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https://soundcloud.com/ssbeltran/reedification

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A teaser for the presentation of my professional exam to obtain the degree for Architect.

Explores and questions the relevance of modern memorials and monuments in the context of how memory behaves at the beginning of the 21st Century.

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Article written for internationally renown architecture magazine, Domus, for its Mexican edition.

The article is about a recent intervention in a public film complex and the critical conditions in which Mexican architects must work in in order to build public buildings.

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Semillas

Worked as editor for this institutional film for Mexico's only women's fund NGO.  I also collaborated with Jonathan Davis to compose the film's music. 

This is the story of three women, a donator, a beneficiary, and the social worker which ties their stories together.

[ssbeltran]

Alex Reynal - Demo Reel

This is a demo reel I was asked to design for prestigious hair & makeup artist Alex Reynal. The client provided 3 songs, a set of photographs, a video of himself at work, and scans of magazine covers he had participated in. A week of work produced this as a result.

 Among the main intentions, the most important was to create a coherent, schizophrenic yet elegant product.

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I was deeply involved in the Mexican Student Movement #YoSoy132 from May 14th to mid August 2012. Among the many activities I was involved in, one was developing graphic materials for the demonstrations, information pamphlets and posters, such as this one.

[ssbeltran]

Justicia Justa

This is a logo I was asked to design for a law firm specialized in strategic litigation. This means that they focus on law issues which stand in the way of furthering human rights. 

The conceptual work on this logo was considerable. The intention to convey the essential sense of equilibrium of justice, as well as communicating a distinction between those parts to be balanced, was crucial for the client. A sobre approach to the language and colors if the logo were also asked for. The result is a play on the essence of a balance, the initials of the law firm (JJ), as well as a clean, geometric and simple expression.

[ssbeltran]

April 2012 Update: The vocal track has been updated and improved. Much more emotional now. The last song composed in Berlin, and the last song from the album "The Longest Road". Finally mixed and arranged. Tells a story about the dark cruising scene over there.

[ssbeltran]

The Generative Monument / El Monumento Generativo

This is a diagram which explains the investigation, findings and early conclusions thus far made for my architectural bachelors thesis.

[ssbeltran]

PERMANENT

This video explains my latest art piece, where I try to answer some of the many doubts which surround generative art and creative coding. 

Through the chemical properties which make steel vulnerable to rust, I seek to materialize code without it losing its generative essence.

The music, photography (recorded with an iPhone 4s), narration and editing are also my work. English version coming soon.

[ssbeltran]

Stilled by quiet loneliness: What a deep, cold thought it is; that I will never take a picture of you asleep beside the sun on our bed.

_ _ - anónimo

[ssbeltran]

Mexicana

Canvas, Acrylic paint, Spray Paint, Wood, Yute, Muscle Shells, Lamps, Scarf

177 X 77 X 40 cm

2006

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Part of a series exploring Mexican identity and symbols.

[ssbeltran]

Tepache y Teloloche

Digital Print / Steel

44 X 44 cm

2006

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Part of a series exploring Mexican symbols.

[ssbeltran]

"¿Pero qué no es este un pueblo huérfano?"

Digital Print,

14 x 23 cm.

2005

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Part of a series exploring social injustice in Mexico.

[ssbeltran]

Franelero

Digital Print / Steel

77 X 177 cm

2006

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Part of an old series exploring injustice in Mexico

[ssbeltran]

Escudero

Digital print / steel

54 X 100 cm

2006

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Piece done to reflect on the national symbols of Mexico, what they mean and how they are subverted.