Synkroniciti is thrilled to welcome back Mexican surrealist painter Mercedes Marin Giménez, who debuted in “Haunting” in ekphrastic collaboration with poet Brian Duran-Fuentes. “Identity” features four of her gorgeous paintings and a short article, “Vibrant Creatures: Mexican Identity and Insight in the art of Mercedes Marin Giménez.” These four animal portraits present elements of Mexican and universal identity, from the everyday to the cosmic and subconscious.
Cacomixtle robándose un tamal de dulce (Caxomixtle stealing a sweet tamal) is the most naturalistic of the artworks, depicting the familiar and charismatic Ringtail partaking of a sweet tamal amongst other sweets. Even here, the background is like a nebula, clouds of pink and purple reflecting the images in the foreground and tying the piece together.
Tochtli deborandose la luna (Tochtli devouring the moon) explores the myth of Tochtli, the rabbit, tossed to the moon to celebrate their kindness to Quetzalcoatl in disguise. There is a lovely sarcasm here that challenges this patriarchal way of showing honor. What is a rabbit supposed to eat on the moon and how do they turn aside the dubious attention from other creatures? Again, Mexican pink features and provides cultural identity through color.
La noche de Aries y Tauro (The night of Aries and Taurus) has its roots in astrology, a Mayan and Aztec tradition. This fiery orange bull represents those born on the cusp between Aries and Taurus, who find themselves more spontaneous and wild than the usual solid Taurus.
The final artwork, Alacrán sosteniendo un eclipse (Scorpion holding an eclipse) explores the nature of those born under the Scorpio Moon, who possess an uncanny ability to understand other people, often creating a secretive defensiveness or sting to keep their vulnerability hidden. The patterning on the scorpion’s body is reminiscent of embroidery on huipil, traditional Mexican dresses, evoking feminine energy, poised to defend itself or nurture. The choice depends on how she is approached.
View Mercedes vibrant work and learn about her inspiration in Synkroniciti’s “Identity” issue, available for purchase here: https://synkroniciti.com/the-magazine/purchase-individual-issues/.
Mercedes Marin Giménez was born in Mexico City’s inhospitable environment in 1986. Fascinated by shapes and colors around her, brushes, crayons, markers and creative materials accompanied her throughout her childhood. She began artistic training in the picturesque town of Tenango, Morelos, which served as an open-air workshop. The life of the countryside, its particular rhythm, aromas and sounds, transmuted the chaotic urban images of her youth in Mexico City.
Her inspiration is born in the braying of a field donkey, settles into the fluttering of batwings in the early morning of an unrepeatable starry night, and dies in the strident sound of minibuses at Aculco Station.
Her paintings have matured into irrepressible explosions of color, inviting us to explore Mexican imagery from a new magical-surrealist perspective.