This series is about resilience, about the strength and survival capabilities of indigenous women in Mexico. Colonialism, globalization, and violence of different types have affected the lives of millions of indigenous people in our continent, America. Mexican indigenous women are remarkably strong that their textiles and art continue to survive and thrive under harsh circumstances. The same is happening to Mexican fauna; animals on the verge of extinction that keep fighting to survive.

For the series “Ordinary World”, I chose the subject of Mexican Indigenous Culture: Their Textiles, Flora, and Fauna. The paintings I created for this series are a hymn to the Mexican Indigenous beauty and traditions, including incredibly enigmatic Mexican animals such as Mexican jaguars and red guacamayas that are sadly on the verge of extinction.

Mexican culture is representative of Indigenous culture. The most recognized Indigenous population in Mexico are the Maya and the Aztec. Their crafts contain traditional patterns recognized in the entire world. Mexican indigenous women have their own distinct textile patterns according to the region they belong. Women’s deep involvement in the textile production process in Mexican indigenous society shows how this activity is present in their daily activities and how it is representative of their culture. Since colonial times, indigenous men have focused on agricultural pursuits while women have spent their time creating textiles. Still today it is a very feminine activity. Mexican indigenous women use their textiles as a means of addressing personal identity and the value of their work. Their rebozos (shawls) emblematize social, religious, ethnic, and cultural practices. A rebozo is universally associated with the feminine, and in my paintings, I also associate it with strength, courage, and resistance.