MEXICO CITY.- A collection of 122 votive paintings dated from 18th century to our days –among them, the one that is possibly the oldest in Latin America, is exhibited for the first time in the show Los relatos pintados: La otra historia, Exvotos mexicanos (Painted tales: Mexican Ex votos, the Other History), recently inaugurated at National Museum of Interventions.
The exhibition organized by the
National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), registers the popular history of the Independence and Revolution struggles was inaugurated by authorities from the National Council for Cultures and the Arts (CONACULTA), The National Executive Commission for the 2010 Commemorations and INAH.
An Ex Voto (votive painting) created by Alfredo Vilchis describes actions takes after Emiliano Zapata proclaimed the San Luis Plan stands out, as well as a series that refers to unknown soldiers who participated in different invasions to Mexico during 19th century, such as the North American Intervention (1846-1848) and the French one (1862_1867).
“Selection of pieces was done with the aim of offering a view of what has been happening in Mexico during the last 200 years. They describe the thinking, worries and most intimate feelings of the people, as well as their garments, gathering points, quotidian life and their participation in struggles”, declared the curator of the exhibition, Elín Luque.
She mentioned that Ex Votos are gratitude objects that date from ancient times; pictorial ones began to circulate during Italian Renaissance; the cult to Mary brings this custom to Mexico.
José Manuel Villalpando, officer of the National Commission for the 2010 Commemorations, mentioned that “Along the great Revolution and Independence history is the one of the people who suffered and accompanied the great leaders, who lived with hope for a change and went through the consequences; the real and sincere history that shows that Mexican is a history of passion and dedication”.
Alfonso de Maria y Campos, general director of INAH, remarked the plastic richness of the selected works and their value as pictorial documents that narrate the intimate and popular history of the last centuries.
He remarked the restructuring that the national Museum of Interventions has undergone to restore dignity of the historical monument; he informed that the project has developed in 2 stages, attending electrical system renovation, architecture and infrastructure.
A third one will begin soon, attending museographic renovation, which includes acquisition of new pieces to enrich the collection of this important museum related to national sovereignty.
“The space will be ready for the Centennial and Bicentennial celebrations with world-class facilities”, announced INAH general director.
Painted Tales exhibition will be open until July 31st 2010 at the National Museum of Interventions, located in General Anaya St. at 20 de Agosto St., Colonia General Anaya, Coyoacan. It will be displayed later at Guadalajara Regional Museum, Jalisco and Santo Domingo Cultural Center in Oaxaca.
