The smiling boy appears to grip the barrier with his fingers while looking over it. The cut-out of the boy stands nearly 65 feet (20 metres) tall and was erected by a French artist who goes by the name JR. It is meant to prompt discussion of immigration.
Elmond Davantes, a software developer from Carlsbad, California, took photos from the US side of the wall.
"It’s larger than life," he said. "It just draws attention to the whole issue in a positive way."
On the Mexican side, families scrambled down a scrubby hillside to take selfies with the artwork. Children in school uniforms played tag under the scaffolding supporting the photo. People on each side of the wall waved to each other. Salma Montoya, 18, a student in Tecate said her town is abuzz about it.
"It’s beautiful," Salma said.
JR has done other large-scale portraits around the world, with much of his recent work focused on immigrants. He told reporters at Wednesday’s unveiling of the portrait that he was spurred by a dream in which he imagined a toddler looking over the border wall.
"And when I woke up, I wondered: 'What was he thinking?'" he said. "Like for us we know all the implications, what it represents, how it divides, but for a kid, I didn’t have the answer."
JR and his friend immediately went back. JR asked the woman if he could photograph her son. She knew his work and agreed. JR said he did not intend for the project in Tecate to coincide with the news about Trump ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA.
This will not be the first time a piece of art is being placed on the wall. Artists and activists have often used the 650 miles of existing wall and fencing between the US and Mexico as a blank canvas. Musicians have played simultaneously on both sides. A giant wooden Trojan-style horse was once parked near a crossing in Tijuana. There have been volleyball games and church services held simultaneously on each side of the border. Sections of wall on the Mexican side have been covered with paintings of everything from butterflies to an upside-down American flag.
JR has erected other large-scale portraits in the slums of Paris, from the top of buildings in Rio de Janeiro, and set up giant photo booths from Israel and Palestine to the United States. His latest piece on the US-Mexico border wall will remain in Tecate for a month. JR hopes people will view it from each side.
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