Día de Muertos, Where the Past Is Present

Since the Mesoamerican era, in what is now Mexico, the emphasis on death was an integral part of the culture. Upon the arrival of the Spaniards, Catholic religious rites were mixed with the worldview of the native peoples, which gave way to the celebration of departed loved ones. On November 1, known on the Catholic calendar as All Saints’ Day, deceased children are remembered; on November 2, All Souls’ Day, adults are celebrated. The return of their souls is joyfully awaited with offerings and home altars.

This year, the exhibition Día de Muertos, Where the Past Is Present, is dedicated to Ray Patlán (1946-2024), a Chicago muralist and painter who died this April. Nearly seventy works from the museum’s permanent collection, mostly popular art, are part of this exhibition, which reveals the importance of collective feeling through the creative hands of different generations of popular artists. Art is a reflection of society, and with this celebration, all those who have died from violence are remembered in this exhibition.

Curated by Dolores Mercado

Continue your tour through Day of the Dead in the Courtyard, where you’ll see an installation entitled El Camino de las Almas designed and created by Yollocalli Arts Reach, the youth initiative of the National Museum of Mexican Art. The installation welcomes guests to consider the connection between life and the afterlife, and the celebration of the Day of the Dead. This installation consider the transition of life from the physical to the spiritual world. We also welcome you to participate in our community ofrenda by remembering a loved one with a message, drawing, memory or simply their name.

INSTALLATION/OFRENDAS

Mizraim Cárdenas (Michoacán)
Hector Duarte (Chicago)
Alejandro García Nelo (Edo de México)
Fulgencio Lazo (Seattle/Oaxaca)
Paloma Núñez-Regueiro (MI)
FEDECMI/Casas Michoacán, ENES, UNAM Unidad Morelia (Chicago/Michoacán)