Mexican Muralism-

A very interesting read! It is the most pure embodiment of ‘Popular Culture’ I have ever encountered,in the way that I now understand it to be. A mural (in the doctrinal sense of the Mexican Republic) is a totally unfiltered public platform for aesthetic expression, cultural storytelling and political discourse- so it must represent the public in totality right? In many ways the mural does serve it’s function and destroys the limitations and prestige of the gallery by creating tangible and universally accessible content- popular culture. This was not exactly news to me, like many people I have seen many beautiful photographs of said murals and understand them to be a fixture of Mexican cultural identity, and pride. Also, I am interested in Diego Rivera’s life (and even more interested his wife’s, duh) so am familiar with some of his particular work. That being said, a factor of this government-funded-public-artwork that I had not previously considered was just how much control the administration would have over the messages which are portrayed. Additionally I had not considered that of course, there are murals are held on the same pedestal I assume they intended initially to destroy. “The Mexican government has made muralist a national cult, and of course in all cults criticism is outlawed. Mural painting belongs to what might be called the wax museum of Mexican nationalism” (31) (Said by Octavio Paz in late 1970s)
The destruction of certain Murals and preservation and glorification of others can certainly be considered an act of control and censorship. Understanding these works as a reflection of the Mexican Gov’s revolutionary nationalism, one which is public but perhaps more importantly Official. That which is communicated on the elevated, institutional mural is no longer representative of individual expression on a popular level but is then Public State expression. He goes on to discern between two types of what is essentially understood as the same medium- the actual public mural which is often destroyed, and seen as oppositional to the official or administrative mural. This he coins the “Problem of Visibility.” “Even the destruction of murals by the authorities is often explained as incidental to a change in administration, a bureaucratic accident, or an alteration in the physical environment of a government office, rather than as a result of ideological differences.” (35) What set out to inspire the destruction of the hierarchal art world now is a direct reflection of only the ruling class or administration. In fact, in an act of rebelliousness a public mural was PAINTED OVER IN WHITE. The falsified voices in this mural which mimic the public disposition was (rather ironically) censored.

To relate this to my life like I always seem to do, I would like to draw attention to the fact that this mural culture has been completely exported and utilized here in Vancouver BC & all over the world! I live in East Vancouver and there are many a mural, most of which are clearly commissioned due to their intricacy and large scale extravagance. Most of which, in my neighbourhood in particular, seem to be attempting to depict only nature and beautiful women (ok I’m generalizing but this is pretty much all art, no?) Contrast this with the writings on bathroom stalls or scrawls on bus stop benches… not all flowers and sunshine a lot of disturbance, and anger etc. Not to mention the inhabitants of the neighbourhood are attempting to be encompassed in these murals or else benefit from these murals in some what but if you pay attention to what Everyone is saying/feeling, and not just to the select few who we would ideally LIKE to represent the whole it is clear this conundrum is inescapable, no matter where in the world you are.

ALSO i have read the Spirit Queen’s Counsel 3 times now and I am still unpacking everything… I will eventually organize my ideas but for now I will just say it is MY KIND OF WEIRD, MAN.