Martine Gutierrez

Alejandro is an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador, struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life in New York City. As time on his work visa runs out, a job assisting an erratic art-world outcast becomes his only hope to stay in the country and realize his dream.

Julián is a successful video-game designer whose life is plagued by a dark secret. But when Diana pops up in his life, the man will feel as though a chance at happiness is within his grasp.

A filmmaker facing an existential crisis goes on a vacation to a Mexican gay nudist beach, where he meets a social media celebrity who convinces him to collaborate with him on his new TV show. But one disappears and another embarks on a wild journey through Mexico City to find him.

Martine Part I-IX (2012–2016), a nine-part video work by the Brooklyn-based performance artist Martine Gutierrez. Using costume, photography and film, Gutierrez produces elaborate narratives scenes that employ pop culture tropes in order to reveal identity—particularly gender identity—as a social construct. In addition to directing, editing, and performing in her video work, often playing multiple roles, Gutierrez scores each film with original music.

Julio Torres spins a fantastical tale of when he lost a gold oyster earring. In his search to find the precious object, Julio reflects on the offbeat characters he encounters in introspective, often eerie, and always comedic vignettes set in a dreamy, alternate version of New York City.