Mexican Folk Art

Bernard Mulaire, Gallery One-One-One, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, 1970. (Slightly revised version of August 8, 2020)

imprimer

Mexican Folk Art: An exhibition of works on loan from the collection of Bernard Mulaire.; Gallery One One One; School of Art, University of Manitoba; March 28-April 17, 1970

Selected items, Mexican folk art, 1968-69. Coll. Bernard Mulaire.

The native arts of Mexico are not a recent phenomenon. They are deeply rooted in the country's ancient Indian heritage and have enchanted men and women the world over ever since Cortez landed with his conquistadores.

Today, Mexico is in a state of transition. While the relatively isolated rural population still clings to its ancestral beliefs, the people of the great urban centers welcome change. Tourist trade is becoming a great economical asset to the country, but it also menaces traditional values by introducing commercialism into activities as pure as those of the folk arts. Modernism is thus the inevitable threat and the Mexican folk arts, that had known their apogee during the nineteenth century, will not come out victorious.

All is not over yet, however. On the contrary, the arts of weaving, basketry, and pottery making continue to be practiced in every region of the country. If there is a general decline in quality, it is not apparent to the outsider. No matter how sophisticated and industrialized our society might have become, it produces nothing to equal the old traditional techniques in spontaneity, charm and sheer joy of discovery.

While some of these objects are sold to tourists, they are still very much an intrinsic part of the life of Mexico. Most are made especially for religious fiestas and thus serve no less a ritualistic purpose than they did before the conquest. The most amusing pieces are often times toys. Amongst the more urbanized people, they are intended for children, but amongst the native Indians, they are considered too precious for play and are owned by adults only. In the case of dolls in particular, this attitude recalls primitive man whose dolls often were associated with sacred rites and magical powers. Some pots and dishes are considered purely ornamental. Collected in vast quantities to decorate the homes, they are often the only luxury permitted the poor who must struggle for daily survival.

All folk art objects, however, are temporary. Small and fragile, they are meant to be discarded and replaced at will, no matter how intricate the decoration. Time in Mexico does not imply money. The artisan works with affection, without any other ambition than to create a thing of beauty and enjoyment.

List of Works Exhibited

A. LA VIRGEN DE LA GUADALUPE

1. Toy, from TAXCO, GUERRERO State: On December 12, all of Mexico celebrates the annual fiesta of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of Wisdom and the Americas. In TAXCO, small children are especially called upon to render homage to their beloved VIRGEN. Since the Church of Guadalupe is situated high above the town on the mountain side, the climb represents for them a mini pilgrimage in which all participate with their families. And so, in imitation of their parents who carry various kitchen utensils on their backs when they go off on real pilgrimages to shrines many miles away, the children, masquerading in false mustaches for the boys, facial cosmetics for the girls, all carry on their backs these little crates laden with miniature ceramic dishes. The colored straw mat represents the petate on which many of them still sleep at home.

B. LA NAVIDAD

2, 3, 4, 5. Whistles, from CHILAPA, GUERRERO State: Christmas is again a time of colorful celebrations. Starting on December 16, the people commemorate the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and their nightly search for a place to stay. In TAXCO, Guerrero State, where churches abound, a procession lead by children impersonating the Holy Couple, is sent each night from one church to another until it has arrived safely on Christmas Eve at the crèche in the Church of Santa Prisca. The POSADAS are a favorite for all children who participate by blowing on whistles such as these and which are available only at this time in the market place. Their chirpy sounds are to be an imitation of the happy songs of birds. Such toy whistles are also associated with the tradition of crèche making in the homes. Mangers often take on impressive proportions, filling up practically the entire front living room. They can represent a whole village with everyone carrying on his respective tasks. Of course, many clay figurines are needed to populate the NACIMIENTOS so that the children's whistles are also used for this purpose.
6, 7. Crèche figurines, from SAN PEDRO TLAQUEPAQUE, JALICO State
8, 9. Cactii, from MEXICO, F.D.: Although less individualistic, these figurines and cactii give definite local color to the mangers.

C. EL MIÉRCOLES DE LOS DOLORES

10. Doll, from IXTAPAN, GUERRERO State?
11., 12., 13., 14., 15. Dolls, from TECOTEMATEPE, GUERRERO State?: On the Wednesday preceding Holy Week is held the annual ceramic festival. On this day, el Miércoles de los Dolores, Indian potters from neighboring mountainous regions around TAXCO, Guerrero State, set up displays of their wares in the market place. On this occasion it is the custom for all housewives to renew their pots and dishes.; The children are never forgotten in any fiesta as these muñecas or dolls for girls indicate. Wearing aprons and carrying baskets or shoulder bags, they represent women on their way to market.
16, 17. Fighting cocks, whistles, from TECOTEMATEPE, GUERRERO State?: Easter time in TAXCO, Guerrero State, is accompanied by a week-long country fair which sponsors illegal matches of fighting cocks, much to the delight of everyone. The law does not interfere because the proceeds from the heavy gambling usually go to the treasury of the church of LA SANTA VERA CRUZ. And so, whistles representing these fiery birds are sold at the ceramic festival. They can also recall the rooster of the Passion which follows the week later.
18. Pot with handle, bought in TAXCO, GUERRERO State
19. Painted gourd, from OLINALÁ, GUERRERO State: The Pottery Festival brings in peddlers from far away OLINALÁ. This village, renowned for its lacquer tradition, brought over before the conquest by the Chinese merchant vessels also produces gourd items like this one, which is worn as a hat by the native women.
20. Rattle, painted gourd, from OLINALÁ, GUERRERO State
21. Painted gourd, from TEHUANTEPEC, OAXACA State
22. Crucifix made from ripe stalks of wheat, from TAXCO, GUERRERO State

D. EL DĺA DE LOS MUERTOS

23. Sugar skull from TAXCO, GUERRERO State: ln Mexico, November 2 is el Día de los Muertos , the Day of the Dead. It is commonly believed that during the preceding night, the souls of the adult dead return to the homes of their families. There they expect to be greeted with a party and if they are not and feel rejected, they are likely to play tricks on their living relatives during the coming year. Therefore, before retiring, the families usually leave rich offerings of tortillas, fruit and such à propos candy as this sugar skull for the delight of their visiting ghosts. Of course, the next morning, the living finish off the feast.; In Mexico, death is accepted as a natural part of life and in order to familiarize everyone with this idea, gifts are made on this day, of these happy calaveras bearing the name of the receiver on its forehead.; The Mexican preoccupation with death stems from a firmly established tradition. The Aztec and Maya nations had elaborated a cult to Death which, in spite of its macabre overtones, expressed the culmination of human life. The Spaniards on the other hand, have always known war in its bloodiest reality.; Today the Mexican sugar skulls recall the huesos de santos , a pastry in the form of human skeleton parts still popular among the Spaniards during the week of the Dead.
24. Angel heart, ground pumpkin seed, from TAXCO, GUERRERO State: All Saints Day, November 1, is reserved to the memory of deceased children who, like their adult counterparts of November 2, also return to their homes for a social call. The offering of food left for them by their families consists, however, mostly of sweets like this heart decorated with a paper angel.; Death and children are not completely incompatible in Mexico. For the parents it means that there is one more angel or angelito in Heaven praising the Lord in His Glory.
25. Toy Death figure, mixed media, from OAXACA, OAXACA State: A tremendous variety of death-inspired toys are available for Mexican children during the celebrations of the Day of the Dead, November 2. This particular one shows an old seated woman selling her wares, like is commonly seen on the streets throughout Mexico. She sports a mass of white cotton hair and a gay festive rebozo or shawl made of crepe paper.
26. Candle holder, from METEPEC, MEXICQ State: Historically, these ÁRBOLES DE VlDA, or Trees of Life, were used for funeral purposes at the grave. Brightly decorated with birds and flowers or saints and Adam and Eve, they are often evocative of paradise. Their style owes much to the Indian Baroque splendor of Mexico's eighteenth century churches.

E. OTHER

27. Owl carved from the horn of a young bull, from XALITLA, GUERRERO State
28. - 34. Unglazed pottery in the Aztec tradition, from JUAPA, GUERRERO State: Since XALITLA and nearby villages like JUAPA are situated in dry arid mountainous regions of GUERRERO, the people have had to rely on other means of income than the traditional farming. Instead, they produce objects of folk art, horn animals like the previous owl, amate drawings on bark paper and various pottery articles. Everyone in JUAPA decorates pottery which is made in another village. The following pieces were all painted by ERMELINDO SALVADOR MORALEZ and his family.
28. Flask made to carry Holy Water, blessed during the Semana Santa and used throughout the year for medicinal and magical purposes as well
29. Fisherman, toy
30. Woodsman, toy
31. Wood cutter, toy
32. Man in a hammock, toy
33. Dancer in a fish costume, toy
34. Drummer in festive attire, toy
35.-38. Toy banks, from JUAPA, GUERRERO State, painted by ERMELINDO SALVADOR MORALEZ: These toy banks for children attest to the temporary nature of all folk art objects. Provided only with a slit to insert the coin, they must be destroyed when the owner wishes to claim his savings.
39.-42. Three-legged bowls, from TAXCO, GUERRERO State
43.-44. Plates, from PUEBLA, PUEBLA State
45. Ceramic Bell, from OCOTLÁN, OAXACA State
46. Doll with a free hanging basket on one arm, from LA COSTA, OAXACA State
47. Doll, from TEHUANTEPEC, OAXACA State: The full skirt of this muñeca is especially appropriate for Tehuantepec where it is still worn by the proud and graceful ZAPOTEC women.
48. Candle holder, from COMITAN DE LAS FLORES, CHIAPAS State: Although this candleholder was bought in San Juan CHAMULAS, CHIAPAS State, it is reported that the altar in the church of nearby ZINACANTAN is decorated with such candelabras. Since the lndians of this region protect their ancestral traditions and especially their pago-Christian cult with a shield of secrecy, it is impossible to know exactly the role played by these animal figurines. One can only surmise that they are the mute guardians of the ﬂagellated Christ image which stands behind them on the altar in a maze of wild flowers.
49. Pyramidal animal figurine, from ACATLÁN, PUEBLA State: This ceramic must refer to a popular fairy tale, for it portrays all the animals of the sea. It includes an enticing mermaid at her guitar as envisioned by the weary Spanish sailors who crossed the ocean in the name of LA CONQUISTA Y LA SANTA FE.
50. Pyramidal candle holder, from ACATLÁN, PUEBLA State: This candleholder, portraying a horse, a cow, a goat and a rooster, strangely recalls to our mind Grimm’s fairy tale, The Three Musicians, which features a rooster, a cat, a dog and a donkey.

Toute reproduction ou adaptation est interdite sans l'autorisation de l'auteur. Les citations doivent indiquer la source.

< retour