Pedro Reyes,
invaded by Russia at the same time. They chose to surrender to the United States instead of Russia.”
The public was appropriately fearful of the nuclear threat in the 1980s, Reyes says, partly as a result of films such as The Day After that depict the bleak realities of a nuclear attack for survivors. That film was broadcast on ABC in 1983, attracting more than 100 million viewers. Four years later, it aired on Soviet state television.
“But right now, if you see the advertisements or the propaganda that the national labs put out there, or if you go to their museums, there are all these lies that they tell themselves that what they are doing is actually useful,” Reyes says.
Nuclear responsibility transcends politics, he says, acknowledging rising concerns about irresponsible use of the weapons when former President Donald Trump was in office.
“But you know, [President Joe] Biden also has made very dangerous declarations, like when he goes out there and says about Putin, ‘We have to get rid of this man,’” Reyes says. “Those are not words that a head of state should say.”
This isn’t SITE Santa Fe’s first connection with Reyes. In 2020, it commissioned his video This is how it ends (2022-23), featuring New Mexicans talking about nuclear colonialism. Direct Action did, however, result in Reyes’ first visits to SITE Santa Fe; he came from Mexico City in September and December 2022, and February.
While Viscoli and Reyes met for the first time in December, their connection goes back years. Viscoli was so inspired after reading about Reyes’ work in 2008 that she co-founded New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, Caoba says. That’s the year Reyes started his ongoing Palas por Pistolas project, which led to Disarm four years later.
Outside SITE Santa Fe, visitors will see nine anti-nuclear-weapons posters created by international artists recruited by Reyes.
Caoba says Direct Action asks viewers to reexamine the legacy of the human race, as well as how they define respect.
“I’m not being human-specific,” she says. “Respect for the land, respect for the water, respect for the air, respect for other creatures living on Earth.”