The Art of Olinalá

About

The Art of Olinalá spotlights works by artisans of the state of Guerrero, located on the Pacific Coast of Southwest Mexico. These artists are dedicated to preserving centuries-old laborious methods of producing and applying lacquer—techniques that originate from the Olmec peoples, the mother culture of Mesoamerican civilizations. The little boxes Olinalá are the artistic pieces most emblematic of the region but artisans also produce other objects of great quality, such as gourds, chests, trays and jewelry boxes.

Unfortunately, the production and fabrication of this artwork fell significantly in the mid-twentieth century, due to complex economic and social circumstances, facing a real danger of abandonment. Nevertheless, the passion and vision of the Olinalá artisans has allowed them to overcome this crisis and escape extinction. Today, they have already established the foundations for the renaissance of their artwork and the recovery of their rich and distinctive culture.

This exhibition is done in collaboration with the Consul General of Mexico and sponsored by Agencia Mexicana de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo

Featured Works