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Exhibitions

The African Presence in México: :  From Yanga to the Present

February 11 – September 3, 2006
(Detail) Mario Guzmán Oliveres (b. 1975), Encuentro de pueblos negros (The Gathering of Black Towns), 2004, woodcut, NMMA Permanent Collection, 2006.35, photo credit: Michael Tropea

For nearly 500 years, the existence and contributions of the African descendants in Mexico have been overlooked.  Almost a century after Africans arrived in Mexico in 1519, Yanga, an African leader, founded the first free African in the Americas (January 6, 1609).  Since then, Africans have continued to contribute their cultural, musical, and culinary traditions to Mexican culture through the present day.  No exhibition has showcased the history, artistic expressions, and practices of Afro-Mexicans in such broad scope as this one, which includes a comprehensive range of artwork from the 18th Century Colonial Caste Paintings to contemporary artistic expressions. 

Participating Artists

Anthony Briones, Alejandro García Nelo, Fernando Vázquez Jácome, Dr. Hermenegildo González Fernández, Adolfo Quinteros, Carlos López, Carlos Nebel, Claudio Linati, Rufino Tamayo, Celia Calderón, Francisco Mora, José Justo Montiel, Alberto Beltrán, Agustín V. Casasola, Romualdo García, Joaquín Santamaría, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Mariana Yampolsky, Manuel González de la Parra, Marisela Salas, Arturo Vera Domínguez, Lourdes Almeida, Ron Wilkins, Tony Gleaton, Aydeé Rodriguez Lopez, Hugo Felix Tovar, Olegario Hernandez, Jose de Luna, Antonio Gómez R., Alfredo González, Guillermo Vargas Alberto, Ignacio Canela, Elizabeth Catlett, Francisco Toledo, Roberto Salazar Rodriguez, Mario Guzman Oliveres, Emmanuel Cruz Muñoz, Guillermo Olgin, Maximino Javier, Carlos Cons, and Alfred J. Quiroz

Curators

Cesáreo Moreno and Sagrario Cruz-Carretero

Organizing Institution

Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum

Displayed at

Main Gallery

Gallery Views

All images below are a glimpse into the exhibition for those who could not attend in person. Photo Credit: Michael Tropea.

Traveling exhibition venues

Museo de Historia Mexicana, Monterrey, National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque, Museo de Arte de Veracruz, Orizaba, Recinto Cultural Ex-Convento Belemita, Veracruz, California African Museum, Los Angeles, The African American Museum in Philadelphia, Museo Alameda, San Antonio, Oakland Museum, California, Smithsonian Institution Anacostia Community Museum, DC, DuSable African American Museum, Chicago

Exhibition Highlights

  • Six casta paintings, a poster, two carved wood figures, and a miniature palenque 3D model pictured from wide angle photograph of gallery
    1 / 10Gallery view of The Spanish Arrival and Colonial Mexico (1519-1810) section of the African Presence in México exhibition
  • Three posters, three paintings, and three 3D art pieces pictured from wide angle photograph of gallery
    2 / 10Featuring (from L-R): Rufino Tamayo painting: Portrait of José María Morelos y Pavón (1984); Fernando Vásquez Jácome 3-D installation: Yanga (2005); and Dr. Hermenegildo González Fernández painting: The Founding of Yanga (1984)
  • Ten paintings and photographs. Portrait painting by Tamayo and portrait photograph by Casasola are most noticeable and largest in this gallery photograph
    3 / 10Gallery view of Revolución Mexicana (1910-1920) section of The African Presence in México exhibition, including (from L-R): Rufino Tamayo painting: Portrait of José María Morelos y Pavón (1984); and Agustín V. Casasola photograph: Portrait of a Female Soldier from Michoacán (1910)
  • Image of a wall in the gallery with eleven black and white photographs in two rows. Above photographs there is writing. First line reads, “MOHINGA. Muñeco a escala grande utilizado en festivales. Second line reads, “large scale puppet used in festivals”
    4 / 10Visible (from L-R): photographs by Joaquín Santamaría and photographs by Romualdo García
  • Wide angle photograph of two gallery walls with next room partially visible. Left wall reads, “FANDANGO. Fiesta con musica. Party with music.” Underneath is a poster and three color photographs. Right wall reads, “MORONGA. Longaniza de sangre. Blood sausage.” Below are two black and white photographs. In next room large 3D turtle is visible hanging on wall
    5 / 10Gallery image of Contemporary Afro-Mexican Communities section of the African Presence in México exhibition. Photographs by Tony Gleaton, Lourdes Almeida, and Ron Wilkins
  • Wide angle photograph of Yanga Carnival artifacts. Instruments, a screen displaying video, a painting, and costumes are visible along the walls
    6 / 10Gallery image of Dances, Costumes and Music section of The African Presence in México exhibition, including (from L-R): Olegario Hernández 3D art: Dance of the Turtle (2005); Aydeé Rodríguez López painting: Dance of the Turtle (2004); and Costume for the Blacks of Carnaval, Coyolillo, Veracruz
  • Close image of two gallery walls, with a painting on each wall and a sculpture in the corner in between them
    7 / 10Visible (from L-R): Elizabeth Catlett painting: Three Women of America (1990); Elizabeth Catlett sculpture: Shawl (1968); and Francscio Mora painting: Head of a Miner (1947)
  • Eight paintings on the walls and five sculptures on a podium in the middle of the gallery visible from wide angle
    8 / 10Visible (from L-R): Maximino Javier paintings; Guillermo Vargas Alberto sculptures; Mario Gúzman Oliveres paintings; and Emmanuel Cruz Muñoz painting
  • Two walls displaying three paintings visible. On the right is a podium against the wall displaying two small sculptures
    9 / 10Featuring (from L-R): Ignacio Canela painting: Self-Portrait (2005); Dr. Hermenegildo González Fernández paintings: The Central Plaza in Yanga, Veracruz (1981) and Road to the Cemetery, Yanga, Veracruz (1983); and Guillermo Vargas Alberto sculpture: La Virgen de Guadalupe (2005)
  • Wide angle photograph shows small figurines in left corner behind glass case, a large painting in right corner, and podium in the center of the room with five sculptures
    10 / 10Featuring (from L-R): Olmec 3D art (1100-500 BCE); Ancient Veracruz 3D art (600-900 BCE); Guillermo Vargas Alberto sculptures; and Alfred J. Quiroz painting: The Kozmic Race (2005)

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