AUTOS SACRAMENTALES

Artpace, San Antonio, TX
May 02 - Sep 01, 2013

San Antonio-based artist Michael Menchaca’s colorful illustrations and videos draw inspiration from pictorial history books of ancient Mesoamerica known as “codices” that traced history, religion, and geography through a codified symbolic language. Using this historical precedent, he creates a visual allegory to address sociopolitical issues surrounding the US-Mexican border. For Artpace’s Main Avenue windows, his multi-dimensional installation depicts self-sacrifice in homage to El Diedad del Queso, a rat god, and Aquilas, an eagle deity.

Detail:
Based on the Pre-Columbian autosacrifice, the project revolves around two deities receiving blood offerings from loyal worshipers.

Short Interview via Artpace

2013