For this edition, the festival presented for the first time the section Plataforma ABC, a decidedly original proposal where art, design, and dialogue come together to transform the rooms of Hotel Drift, in the heart of the city, into exhibition spaces for artistic projects. Closeness is the central aspect of Plataforma ABC: visitors experience the work from the intimacy of a room, interacting directly with artists, curators, and galleries. Unlike a conventional walkthrough such as the "white cube”, moving through the rooms of Hotel Drift during Plataforma ABC reframes the conditions in which art is experienced, placing works in dialogue with design pieces and offering a spontaneous glimpse into how a work of art might exist within a domestic context.

The activation brought together 34 galleries and artistic initiatives, ranging from emerging projects such as Amvleto (a local project for community artistic development and a key participant in Plataforma ABC’s art talks), Mototintype from San Francisco, Lux Perpetua Art Centre from Mérida, En Blanco Galería from San José del Cabo, and Galería Mascota from Mexico City, to established local and international galleries, including Proyectos Monclova, RGR, Travesía Cuatro, Ago Projects, Galería Hilario Galguera, and Saenger Galería, among others.

As part of this new proposal, the program featured two art talks: the first, Desierto, cultura y futuro: narrativas en transformación, presented on Friday 20th and moderated by curator Daniela García Romero, and the second, Territorio y paisaje: el arte como reflejo del entorno, presented by the director of Ginocchio Galería, Luciano Ginocchio, on Sunday 22nd. Both talks aimed at broadening reflection on contemporary artistic practice and its connection to territory.

The formula of ABC Art Baja, which brings Plataforma ABC together with previously existing sections Sala ABC, Patio ABC, and Local, is far from conventional. Several factors make ABC Art Baja a singular festival. The first is that the festival has spent four years establishing itself as a meeting point between the local art scene and international collectors. Second, it operates outside the Anglophone sphere or the major hubs of the art market. Third, it is set in a coastal location surrounded by ecosystems of enduring global significance, including nature reserves and the Sea of Cortés. Finally, its activations take place in existing cultural spaces or those adapted for this purpose, without abruptly disrupting the rhythm and infrastructure of its host cities. Considering these factors, there are few examples of art festivals with a value proposition similar to ABC Art Baja. One might think of ArtRío in Brazil or Art X Lagos in Nigeria as interesting examples of showcasing local contemporary talent in coastal cities — but both cities have metropolitan populations of over 10 million, whereas the combined population of San José del Cabo, Todos Santos, and La Paz stands at 393,611 stable residents according to the 2020 INEGI census. From this perspective, the festival is not only interesting in its own right, but is situated in a location decentralized from major metropolises, in constant dialogue with its territory and natural environment. ABC Art Baja positions itself as a compelling proposal for decentralization, sustaining and promoting artistic practice from geographies beyond the country's major cities.

The program continues this weekend in Todos Santos, opening this Thursday, March 26th, with Sala ABC at the Centro Cultural Profesor Néstor Agúndez Martínez and the Teatro General Manuel Márquez de León, Patio ABC at Jazamango, and activations from the Local agenda.

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To view the full program, visit https://abcartbaja.com/