Art Talk - Platica del Artista

Art Talk - Platica del Artista

Friday, April 7, 2023

6:00pm to 8:00pm

Hinovations Art Gallery

McAllen, Texas

If you missed the Opening Reception for Mario Guzman, here is another opportunity to meet him and listen to his Artist Talk - Platica in reference to his culture and his inspirations.  

Mario Guzmán -- San Rafael, Veracruz. México. 07 de noviembre de 1991

The Olmecs were the first culture in central Mexico to kickstart a concept of society and urban centers. The Olmec began the cultural and religious practices that became a part of the groups that later followed in central Mexico. To this day, all the culture of central Mexico is influenced by the mother Olmec culture. One of the reasons for this are the commercial and central establishments were cultural exchanges would regularly take place, such as El Pital, a town part of San Rafael (Veracruz, Mexico) located at the 81st Kilometer, where Mario is from.

The acknowledging and appreciation for nature and astrology, the consciousness of his surroundings, art and architecture are a few qualities which inspire Mario Guzman of the central Mexican cultures and inspire him, such as his towns identity, El Pital or “The Lost Link” (as referred to due to its history and newly discovered archeology finds) represent in him.  The presentation of An Olmec in the Planet contains a series of paintings of pre-hispanic topics with an eclectic touch, this is to emphasize the connection between the antiquity of the past and the world we know today.

The monochromatic finish of the paintings is proof of the timeless and trend of the artist in the painting. The animals (jaguar, snake), the fruits (cacao, vanilla) and the deities here painted, are not random, they are symbolic and alive images of the central Mexican culture. This sample can also be of an Olmec connecting a story of the present time to one of the ancient times.

Mario Guzman lives in Texas (United States) as of 2021, originally from San Rafael, he has created a series that evoke migration, something that we can constantly see in pre-hispanic towns and that, in the artist’s words, have always showed him resilience and how to be assertive, “I’m not where I’d like to be, but I’m no longer where I started” he shares. It’s a pleasure to appreciate the art of this Olmec.