( CNN ) -- The sculptures speak for themselves : Piñatas in the shape of decapitated heads bearing gunshot wounds adorn the walls of El Paso 's Public Library in Texas . Artist Abel Saucedo says the exhibit , `` Ciudad Juarez es the .1 '' has drawn mixed emotions from viewers . The exhibit , called `` Ciudad Juarez es the .1 , '' is the work of local artist Abel Saucedo , 24 , a recent arts graduate of the University of Texas in El Paso . Saucedo grew up in El Paso and Ciudad Juarez across the border in Mexico , and says violence is now a normal part of life on the border . `` Every time you have a conversation here violence is brought up . It 's on the front page , it 's part of everyone 's life , it 's a reality . I decided to use a piñata because it 's a way to identify with my culture , '' Saucedo said in a phone interview . The collection , which Saucedo describes as post modern conceptualism , contains four individual piñata sculptures in the shape of cartoon heads a bit larger than life size . The heads look as if they have been severed at the bottom of the neck and they are adorned with red paint and shot wounds on the forehead . They are all men -- one has glasses , one a golden tooth , one is smiling , and one has a mustache . `` They do n't represent anyone in particular , just the violence in the border , '' Saucedo said . `` I got a pressure gun and shot each piñata so it would look like a gunshot . I also filled the pressure gun with red paint so it would drip down the face , '' Saucedo said . The pieces , which took Saucedo six months to complete , were received with mixed emotions . `` I have had all kinds of responses . People like them , they think it 's a great idea . People think its offensive , sad , it 's humorous , but people say it 's the truth . In art I 've learned that everything everyone says , it 's an opinion , '' said Saucedo . El Paso Library spokesman Jack Galindo said the library had only one official complaint -- a man said he was `` very offended '' by the pieces . The library receives around 1,592 visitors per day . `` As a person living here in the community , as an artist , this is my opportunity to speak , and it 's tragic . My family and friends have had to move , it 's tragic . I feel it 's my responsibility as an artist to represent those feelings , '' said Saucedo . Enrique Torres , spokesman for the Mexican state of Chihuahua 's Joint Operation said the violence is as brutal as ever . `` We have anything from one dead a day to six or seven . Criminal groups have changed their strategy . They used to operate in high profile vehicles and large caliber weapons , now they use low caliber weapons and older model compact vehicles which are harder to detect , '' said Torres . Chihuahua 's Joint Operation oversees 7,000 Mexican soldiers operating in Juarez working alongside 2,300 federal Police and local police forces . `` Ciudad Juarez es the .1 '' will run until July 31 .
Artist says piñatas in shape of decapitated heads represent border violence . Abel Saucedo used pressure gun with red paint to create gunshot wounds . Saucedo says violence is a `` way of life '' in U.S.-Mexico border communities . `` Ciudad Juarez es the .1 , '' is on display at El Paso 's Public Library in Texas .