piñata
papier mache & vintage Siempre magazines
36"x 36"x 36"
2017
papier mache & vintage Siempre magazines
36"x 36"x 36"
2017
During an artist residency in Puebla, Mexico - which landed during lent & Easter celebrations - I found myself digging through various Latin American magazines, fascinated by the old photographs and headlines. This exercise not only helped improve my Spanish, but also allowed me to have a better understanding of Mexican politics and social constructs. Ultimately, the piñata was a culmination of my research on Mexican culture, gender roles, and change over time.
I became deeply interested in the divide, and also unity, of the indigenous culture and the Spanish colonial history. This tension felt familiar to me, and I'm sure to most others.
When the Spanish colonies arrived in Mexico, they used many tactics to conquer the indigenous peoples and lure (or force) them to Catholicism.
The piñata, I learned, was actually a symbol present in both Catholic and indigenous tradition.
To the indigenous people, the piñata was used as an offering to the gods, about sacrifice, devotion and honor.
To the Spanish Catholics, the 7-point piñata represented the 7 deadly sins, and contained treats and trinkets
also representing sacrifice, to be broken on Easter when lent is broken. In this context, the piñata, often seen as a symbol of celebration & joy,
becomes instead a symbol of manipulation & deception. It simultaneously represents the similarities and differences, the tension and culture clash present throughout history, and currently, in Mexico, as well as many other parts of the world.
The piñata, I learned, was actually a symbol present in both Catholic and indigenous tradition.
To the indigenous people, the piñata was used as an offering to the gods, about sacrifice, devotion and honor.
To the Spanish Catholics, the 7-point piñata represented the 7 deadly sins, and contained treats and trinkets
also representing sacrifice, to be broken on Easter when lent is broken. In this context, the piñata, often seen as a symbol of celebration & joy,
becomes instead a symbol of manipulation & deception. It simultaneously represents the similarities and differences, the tension and culture clash present throughout history, and currently, in Mexico, as well as many other parts of the world.