Beyond the Vanishing Maya: Voices of a Land in Resistance
Beyond the Vanishing Maya: Voices of a Land in Resistance aims to break down myths and misconceptions about the Maya, their existence, their art and their culture. By placing different artistic expressions used by contemporary Maya artists, including painting, textiles, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery, poetry and music on equal footing, we strive to tell a story that celebrate the richness of Maya art and culture while also challenging European hierarchies in art history.
The colonisation of Guatemala by Spain in the 16th century has had lasting impacts on the Central American country, its Indigenous Maya population, and Maya art. The imposition of colonial aesthetics and ways of thinking meant that European/western art forms were upheld as the standard of beauty and sophistication, while Indigenous art created pre-European contact was devalued and marginalized. Throughout history, European art was used as a tool to reinforce colonial, white supremacist ideologies, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and erasure. Museums themselves are institutions rooted in colonialism and have commonly portrayed Indigenous peoples as the “Other” to be examined through an anthropological lens.
In this exhibition, Maya curator Diego Ventura Puac-Coyoy aims to challenge the ways the Maya have been portrayed, while also working against the devaluation of women’s work and women’s art that has been sustained throughout the history of Western art. The exhibition will also show how contemporary Maya artists continue to use pre-contact art forms to influence their work today. Diego has curated a selection of Maya art, including textiles, painting, ceramics, sculpture, music, cuisine, and jewelry, and given them equal value to challenge outdated European hierarchies of art history. These different art forms, displayed in dialogue with each other, will stand to represent the richness of Maya art and culture as one that continues to thrive in spite of colonisation, genocide violence and forced assimilation.
Guest curator Diego Ventura Puac-Coyoy, supported by the curatorial team at the Textile Museum of Canada, has selected artworks by Maya contemporary artists both within and outside the Ventura Puac-Coyoy Collection, as well as textiles from the Museum’s collection. Artworks and belongings from private collections and other institutions have also been included. Visitors will see the Ventura Puac-Coyoy collection placed in dialogue with textiles, ceramics, masks, and other art forms.
Beyond the Vanishing Maya: Voices of a Land in Resistance is on view at Textile Museum Canada until 28 March 2025.
Discover more and plan your visit:
textilemuseum.ca
The colonisation of Guatemala by Spain in the 16th century has had lasting impacts on the Central American country, its Indigenous Maya population, and Maya art. The imposition of colonial aesthetics and ways of thinking meant that European/western art forms were upheld as the standard of beauty and sophistication, while Indigenous art created pre-European contact was devalued and marginalized. Throughout history, European art was used as a tool to reinforce colonial, white supremacist ideologies, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and erasure. Museums themselves are institutions rooted in colonialism and have commonly portrayed Indigenous peoples as the “Other” to be examined through an anthropological lens.
In this exhibition, Maya curator Diego Ventura Puac-Coyoy aims to challenge the ways the Maya have been portrayed, while also working against the devaluation of women’s work and women’s art that has been sustained throughout the history of Western art. The exhibition will also show how contemporary Maya artists continue to use pre-contact art forms to influence their work today. Diego has curated a selection of Maya art, including textiles, painting, ceramics, sculpture, music, cuisine, and jewelry, and given them equal value to challenge outdated European hierarchies of art history. These different art forms, displayed in dialogue with each other, will stand to represent the richness of Maya art and culture as one that continues to thrive in spite of colonisation, genocide violence and forced assimilation.
Guest curator Diego Ventura Puac-Coyoy, supported by the curatorial team at the Textile Museum of Canada, has selected artworks by Maya contemporary artists both within and outside the Ventura Puac-Coyoy Collection, as well as textiles from the Museum’s collection. Artworks and belongings from private collections and other institutions have also been included. Visitors will see the Ventura Puac-Coyoy collection placed in dialogue with textiles, ceramics, masks, and other art forms.
Beyond the Vanishing Maya: Voices of a Land in Resistance is on view at Textile Museum Canada until 28 March 2025.
Discover more and plan your visit:
textilemuseum.ca