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What is it then that we really need?An art with revolution as its subject: because the principal interest in the worker's life has to be touched first (Rivera D., 1929)
This quote describes Mexican Modernism and its aim to honour the working and agricultural class, as well as indigenous people. The movement blossomed in the 1920s after the Mexican Revolution (1910 - 1920). The aim of the Revolution was to build an equal society, giving everyone access to education and economic stability. This was reflected in the art style, portraying Mexican culture and history. (Almeida L., 2020). I have chosen to write about Mexican Modernism because I was interested in exploring this movement in more depth, looking at its relation to society and politics. I produced this study research by looking at articles and books from authors such as Laura Almeida and Patrick Frank. In this essay I will present my research and analysis of a range of Mexican Modernist artworks. I have chosen this structure to explain the techniques and style distinguishing this movement, analysing their relation to politics at the time.
An example of the shift towards Modernism in Mexico can be seen in the fresco Creation by Diego Rivera. This was his first mural, commissioned by the Mexican Ministry of Education and created in a year, between 1922 and 1923. It is one of the most recognised works among Mexican Murals and it stands 92 square metres high. The main theme of this piece is religion. The composition introduces elements of Judeo-Christianity, Hellenic, Mexican and ancient Egyptian symbology. The latter is presented through Aton, icon for the sun. (Diego Rivera Artworks and Famous Paintings, 2012) The work resembles an altar, and its main elements are the humans standing on either side. The figures of Science and Education can be seen in the sky. Faith, Hope and Love are shown on the left side, with Justice, Prudence and Strength on the right. At the top there is an icon where three hands emanating from the sun point downwards. This could symbolise the Christian concept of the Divine Trinity. Below the middle hand stands a person holding out his hands towards the others. At the base are the drawings of Adam and Eve, shown on opposite sides of the altar. (Creation by Diego Rivera, 2020) The method used to create this involved applying pigments in melted wax. This piece has similarities with the renaissance style, for example the use of allegories. The use of gold leaf and extended bodies emphasises the Italian and Byzantine influence in this work. However, the people in the work possess distinct Mexican features, such as the figure of Song, based on Rivera's second wife. This creates a juxtaposition with the works from the renaissance, reflecting the artistâs beliefs about Mexican identity. While working on the mural, Rivera stated that he felt the need to carry a gun, due to his beliefs clashing with right-wing students. (Creation, 1922 by Diego Rivera, 2010)
Another recognised modernist work by Diego Rivera was his mural In the Arsenal. The piece can be found in the Court of Fiestas and it is inspired by a popular kind of song in Mexico, known as a Corrido. Rivera wrote the song, which states So will be the proletarian revolution. These words were painted on the red band at the top of the fresco, communicating his social beliefs. (The Arsenal, 1928 by Diego Rivera, 2010) This work is part of the series Political views of the Mexican people. At the centre of the piece, we can see Rivera's wife Frida Kahlo. She is giving weapons to the soldiers who are believed to have been part of the Agrarian Revolution. On the left the painter David Alfaro Siqueiros. To the right we can see the Cuban revolutionary Antonio Mella, who rebelled against Machado, the dictator in Cuba,. Next to him we can see his wife Tina Modotti, a political activist for the Comintern. The man with a black hat standing beside Tina is Vittorio Vidali, a Stalinist agent. He later on became Tina's husband, after Mella was assassinated in the street. There are strong suspicions of him being Mella's murderer. Rivera was part of the Mexican Communist Party, and the painting also introduced Leon Trotsky. He was a Russian revolutionary and lived with Rivera for months. (The Arsenal by Diego Rivera, 2020)
The artwork tells a story about the Mexican Revolution, representing Rivera's Marxist beliefs. This was achieved through the people and typography in the mural. The figures in the painting show the artists intention to depict the Mexicanidad, or Mexican identity. (Frank P., 2017, p 44) This interest was central in the Mexican Modernist movement. Rivera's style of painting introduced vivid, striking colours. The mural was figurative and on a large scale. While we can see modernist elements in his painting, his political ideology prevented him from embracing full abstraction. We can see elements of realism in his painting, these allowed him to powerfully convey the events that happened during the rebellion.
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