The Mictlantecuhtli Collection
A 30x30 Collection by LUPE 3000:
Explore Milwaukee's vibrant talent at Var Gallery's 10th 30x30x30 Exhibition on Friday, April 19th.
The selected artists, myself included, crafted 30 bespoke pieces of art in 30 days. This exhibition is a perfect occasion to support and connect with Milwaukee’s local artists, offering a glimpse into the diverse talent the city harbors.
RSVP: https://www.vargallery.com/events-1/30x30x30-exhibition-2024/form.
Artist Statement
In this series of 30 (6" x 6") pieces (The Michlantecuhtli Collection), I explore the essence of Mictlantecuhtli, the Mexica god of death, through glyphs, symbols, and sequences. These artworks serve as portals to the ancient Mexica world, reflecting the deity's role in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Each symbol is meticulously chosen for its cultural and spiritual significance, from owls, his messengers, to the bones and skulls that signify his realm.
This collection pays tribute to the rich heritage of the Mexica, inviting viewers to reflect on life's transience and the beauty within the inevitability of death. It encourages an intimate engagement with Mexica mythology, offering a narrative on mortality and the preservation of memory through art.
By capturing Mictlantecuhtli's essence, this series not only demystifies death but celebrates the guardian of life's cycle. It stands as a reminder of myth's power and art's ability to immortalize the past, making the unseen seen and the forgotten remembered.
This collection is inspired by the Codex Borgia, a vital pre-Columbian Mesoamerican manuscript. This pictorial document, used in rituals and divinations, is rich in symbolic imagery and showcases the ancient understanding of the universe. It resides in the Vatican Library, safeguarded for its cultural and historical significance. As a key resource for scholars, the Codex Borgia remains an essential link to Mesoamerican heritage and spirituality.
Mictlantecuhtli
Mictlantecuhtli, the primary god of death in the Mexica culture, presides over Mictlan, the underworld in Mexica mythology. This deity is not only a symbol of the end of life but also a figure of respect and reverence, embodying the cycle of life and death that was central to Mexica and wider Mesoamerican cosmology. The Mexica civilization, renowned for its towering pyramids, intricate codices, and profound religious rituals, was the dominant force in central Mexico, culminating in the Mexica (Aztec) Empire. Their reverence for Mictlantecuhtli reflects a deep understanding of life's transitory nature and the importance of the afterlife.
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Available for commissioned projects.