Performance Art in Mexico

Filed in archive Latin Culture on April 9, 2008

Flashmobs! Have you guys heard of this? This is new to me, but I love the idea.

It turns out it's a worldwide movement and has been for some time. I feel so out of the loop! A group chooses a public site for their performance and then they basically coordinate a collective pose. The entire group freezes, each performer in a particular configuration. They remain completely still for a while.

Everyone around them, of course, is at first confused before realizing this oddity is actually a show of sorts. After the time expires, the performers continue walking (usually each in different directions) as if nothing ever happened.

I find this completely fascinating. And its apparently popular in Mexico as well. Here's a YouTube clip of a Flashmob troupe performing in Mexico City's airport.

Has anyone actually seen one of these? Where were you? What did you think?