For Maya/Zoque artists, decoloniality refers to power and thought. There is a desire to change the way others see us by exploring and giving importance to how we see ourselves. We revalue our knowledge, generating dignity from our identity and questioning the categories imposed with words such as “folklor”, “poor”, “illiterate” and “indigenous” itself.
In the formal experimentation the personal decolonizing struggle can be appreciated. In creating abstract works the person frees him/herself to indigenous forms of expression… and borrows from the canon of Western/universal abstract art. In creating figurative works the indigenous artist appropriates formal languages often of the gentile (or non-indigenous), and continues to express localized contents of his/her choice and aesthetic.
Of course, it is important to mention that there are artists (in particular Maruch Méndez) who invent a figurative-narrative style from their (personal/community) autonomy, which has become generalized in other artists.
Finally, it will be seen that the use of new media – especially performance, video and textile art – opens communication with the contemporary art world, while Mayan and Zoque styles and expressions are invented in these artistic genres.
Antún Kojtom Mut Ch’ulelal / Nagual Birds Antún Kojtom, a year after receiving the Rosario Castellanos Medal, he returns to his studio with renewed passion—evident...
Antún Kojtom Ts’ ibabil k’ op yaye ch’ ulelal The carved language of ch’ulel This installation of more than 400 engravings by Maestro Antún Kojtom...
Reflections Alone with Näwayomo” Édgar Ruiz, Saúl Kak, and PH-Joel In November 2020, the lands of the community of San Antonio Canelar, in the municipality...
Raymundo López Painting childhood memories We were amazed by the precise and beautiful technique of the painter Raymundo López (San Andrés Larráinzar, Chiapas; 1989). As...
PH Joel Of gods and cyborgs PH Joel (born in Francisco Villa, Ocosingo in 1992) presents his art in this exhibition dedicated to the intersection...
Xanabiletik Chronicle of indigenous migrants from Chiapas, Mexico Xanabiletik: Chronicle of Indigenous Migrants from Chiapas Migrations in the Maya and Zoque villages have always been...
Antún Kojtom y Kayum Ma’ax Futures, tradition and globalization Futures: Tradition/Globalization With great honor, the Galería MUY presents the exhibition “Futuros: tradición/globalización” featuring recent works...
Manuel Guzmán y Raymundo López Fate and luck Two Visions of Ritual and Political Life in Two Highland Maya Towns.Two artists represent spiritual and dreamlike...
Science and spirituality in Mayan visual arts Featuring sculptor Gerardo K’ulej, accompanied by additional works from his fellow artists. Contemporary art places great emphasis on...