The contemporary links between pre-Hispanic Mayan design and abstract art
he La Ruta Maya Foundation, with the collaboration of the “Rafael Rodríguez Padilla” National School of Plastic Arts (ENAP), presents an art exhibition that seeks to establish a meeting point between pre-Hispanic Mayan design and contemporary geometric abstract art.
The exhibition invites us to reflect on the creative processes of the artists who, despite the time distance and their own visions of geometric abstraction, reached the same plastic solutions. The decorative variety aims to amaze the public and continue to inspire designers, artists, interior designers, architects and other branches of expression based on shared human creativity.
The exhibition features an interesting selection of pieces worked in ceramics, shell and stone that correspond to the Mayan Classic period (250-900 AD), with special emphasis on those that include motifs, sequences and patterns based on lines and basic geometric figures.
One of the most important artistic expressions of pre-Hispanic cultures, especially the Mayan, are the painted ceramic pieces which include scenes with human and animal characters, as well as symbols and decorative motifs that form patterns. Much of this expression was represented through lines and colors in other media that have transcended even until today (such as fabrics, for example).
Many other designs have similarities to current design patterns, such as those made up of zigzagging, staggered, and spiral lines; or basic geometric motifs, such as the square, the circle, the triangle and star and cruciform designs.
The collection is registered as cultural heritage of the nation in the Registry of Cultural Assets of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and is in the custody of Fundación La Ruta Maya for protection, conservation, research, dissemination and exhibition to the public for educational purposes. The Foundation organizes one or two thematic exhibitions annually, within its Exhibitions and Education programs, in order to bring the public closer to the culture and art of Guatemala and Mesoamerica. That all exhibitions are free for admission is always ensured. Their activities are frequently published on the following pages and social networks:
Exhibition Details
Location: Gallery 6 of the Spanish Cooperation Training Center (CFCE) or Old College of the Society of Jesus in Antigua Guatemala (6th Avenue North between 3rd and 4th West Streets).
Opening Hours: Open from June 24, 2022, to February 5, 2023, Monday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
