Thursday 12 August 2010

Mexican Monsters

Photobucket

Photobucket

I had a great three day trip to Mexico City, even better than the previous ones because I actually planned some things to do for once. My usual routine when travelling is to show up and wander the streets, waiting for interesting sights to come and punch me in the eye, but since I'd already done a lot of wandering in this city and I didn't have a guide book, I hit up Trip Advisor for some ideas.

That led to us going to the Museum of Folk Art (Museo de Arte Popular) which I highly recommend to anyone visiting the Mexican capital. One of my favourite things about Mexican culture has always been its skeletons and skulls, its monsters and fighters, and all the magical and colourful components of a mythology based partly in Pre-Colombian culture, partly in Catholicism, and partly, I think, in the mad mixture of the two.

There was nothing fusty in this museum, it was a well-edited and well-displayed collection (pieces ranged in age from Pre-Colomibian to early 21st century), housed in a dramatic white building that was once an art deco fire station. Today I'm sharing with you a few of the monsters...

Photobucket

Photobucket

I'm sparing you guys pictures of me because, after a seven hour bus ride and changing in the hotel lobby bathroom, I looked a bit like a combination of these two guys, except with redder eyes:
Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket
Won't you be mine?

Photobucket
The rest of the band!

And last but not least, I loved this lady's feather eyelashes and delicate cut-out robe! Fashionable, no?
Photobucket

Most photos by my boyfriend, who was on a roll that day, and also still had some battery in his camera!

17 comments:

Arielle said...

These photo's are wonderful! I don't see enough of Mexican folk art work and these figurines have reminded of how much I love and enjoy their artwork. It truly is unique and special.

Anthea said...

Really cool photos! Well done to your bf!

Anthea,
Embracing Style

Emilie said...

So cool!
Love this!

Imogen said...

I love these pictures because they are so colourful and creative. I especially like the peacock it's so cool.

Closet Fashionista said...

This is so cool!!! Love it!
(I'm 21, so I was 11 when the first HP book came out, hehe :) )
http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com/

Rio said...

So awesome! Looks like your cameras held out for the good shots at least haha! ;)
(http://showersofsunflowers.blogspot.com)

Amy Acorn said...

wow these are amazing, sounds like your having a fun time in mexico!x

Sarah said...

these are pretty cool! although the skeleton ones are a bit scary! Great blog xxx

kiran sawhney said...

Oh such lovely pictures. Bright and colorful. Thanks for sharing.

Ashley said...

I am in love with the dragon and the peacock!!! :)

Emily, Resplendent Tranquility said...

I've always loved the use of bright, vibrant color in Mexican folk art as well. An entire museum dedicated to it sounds like an extreme visual treat and the proof is certainly in your pictures. I really like the skeleton band and the bird-type creature in the second photo. It looks like it's made entirely from paper? Its facial expression is highly amusing.

Ah, driving across Canada. I'd like to do that, too (apart from taking a cross-country train trip). I'll get up there soon. A friend and I keep talking about it (specifically, a trip to PEI), but I need to renew my passport first. Speaking of ridiculous, Montreal is so close it's really a shame that I've never ventured up there. It's not like anything absolutely monumental has kept me from doing so. Time to start making it a reality, methinks!

Unknown said...

This artwork is so wonderful and vibrant!

Jamie-Lee Burns said...

I am loving the photos, the artwork is brilliant! x

http://pagesixxx.blogspot.com/

Lee Oliveira said...

cool photos.. love the colours by the way
LOx

Phuong said...

great photos, love it

k said...

my favorite folk thing about mexico is the kids who dress up as elderly people and dance bent over...what are they called? abuelitos or something...they are my fave :)

Dus of Cuddly Cacti said...

awesome! I love how you focused on the monsters in the museum! My post on this museum was just a hodgepodge of many things there so it was cool to see the monsters & I think a few of have been retired or in hiding when I went. (There were some huge boxes in stairwells they may have been in, prob for months!)