Carne y arena. Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Carne y arena is a virtual reality exhibition by Alejandro G. Iñárritu that can be visited at the Espacio Fundación Telefónica in Madrid. It is an individual experience of a stretch of the journey of migrants and refugees from Central America and Mexico.

The exhibition, created by Mexican director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, places each visitor on an individual journey wearing virtual reality goggles. The scene reproduces a segment of the journey of Central American and Mexican migrants and refugees, and the audience takes part in it rather than simply watching.

The work is based on real testimonies and created with immersive technology. The visitor becomes present within the scene, so that the boundary between the observer and the participant disappears. The approach invites reflection on compassion, identity and what it means to be human.

The installation was presented at the Cannes Film Festival and received a special Oscar for its contribution to the narrative language of virtual reality. Iñárritu is the author of films such as Amores perros, Babel, Birdman or The Revenant. The exhibition features several virtual reality stations, so each person can move through it at their own pace.