Calle Tlaxcoaque S/N, Centro, Cuauhtémoc
"Mexico: Culture and Society Reborn" by Seher One
“Mexico: Culture and Society Reborn” is another mural that was created as part of the Lienzo Capital (Facades of the Capital) program of the Mexico City Youth Institute (INJUVE) and the Government of Mexico City.
Like the other murals that lend color to Mexico City, it has great graphical and historical significance – and in this case a particularly curious significance.
The artist Seher One was commissioned to paint a mural on the Jeanne D´Arc building, and produced a work entitled "Quetzalcóatl dances with his children in Mictlán". The mural was damaged by the earthquake on 19 September 2017, so Seher One was asked to retouch it. Pretending that he was repairing the original, the mural artist instead created a new work that serves as a graphic reminder of the events in Mexico City
This is how “Mexico: Culture and Society Reborn” came about, a triptych that dispenses with the depictions of the earthquake in the tabloid press, preferring instead to use pre-Hispanic symbolism to express the sensitivity, teamwork, and courage that enabled the residents of Mexico City to overcome this natural phenomenon.
In a range of cold colors, from which the violet, pale green and matt yellow shades stand out particularly, we are presented with familiar figures from Mexican culture: a golden eagle with its wings spread out, alighting on a closed fist; this symbolizes not only calm, but “picking oneself up”, “tackling the problem together”, “chin up”, Mexico. Other fists represent other countries that supported Mexico during this crisis.
Besides Quetzalcóatl, several death masks with Mayan features can be seen, elements with hammers and helmets, and geometrical shapes in the background that resemble heaps of rubble.
In his paintings he appears to deconstruct objects, as if he were making them explode. That said, his geometrical figures are interwoven with figurative creatures ranging from animals such as a fox to pre-Hispanic deities like Quetzalcóatl.
Apart from Mexico City, Seher One has also painted in other cities around the world, including Denver in the USA and Zaragoza in Spain.
The artist Seher One was commissioned to paint a mural on the Jeanne D´Arc building, and produced a work entitled "Quetzalcóatl dances with his children in Mictlán". The mural was damaged by the earthquake on 19 September 2017, so Seher One was asked to retouch it. Pretending that he was repairing the original, the mural artist instead created a new work that serves as a graphic reminder of the events in Mexico City
... we have Quetzalcoatl, though not as a god, but as the combined strength of all Mexicans, as we saw in September when we were all united to advance
Seher One
Besides Quetzalcóatl, several death masks with Mayan features can be seen, elements with hammers and helmets, and geometrical shapes in the background that resemble heaps of rubble.
About the Artist
David Piñon, an artist from the country's capital, is better known as Seher One. He completed a degree in Design and Visual Communication at the Faculty of Art and Design of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and specialized in illustration – as a brief glance at his work makes perfectly clear.In his paintings he appears to deconstruct objects, as if he were making them explode. That said, his geometrical figures are interwoven with figurative creatures ranging from animals such as a fox to pre-Hispanic deities like Quetzalcóatl.
Apart from Mexico City, Seher One has also painted in other cities around the world, including Denver in the USA and Zaragoza in Spain.