Tuesday, October 12, 2010

2,500 plus One - Alejandro Santiago


Alejandro Santiago (1964-) is a highly-trained and well-known Mexican artist. He was born and raised in Teococuilco in the state of Oaxaca. You might be thinking, "Why does that matter?"

It's because Santiago returned to his hometown after spending several years in Europe only to find that half of the population - some 2,500 people - had left. He had come home to a shell of a town. Most of the working age population had emigrated. Those who remained were either old or children who had been left with grandparents. Some of these emigrants would die in the desert, but against their poverty it was a chance they were willing to take.

In a dream, Santiago saw a way to repopulate those 2,500 souls plus his own to the town. With a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation and 35 workers, he created 2501 clay sculptures. No two figures are alike. Santiago personally shaped each one in a crude way to represent the native people and the hardships of their lives.

The figures are on exhibit now, but eventually Santiago will place them in Teococuilco to celebrate the "migrants' return." Or as one curator described these sculptures, "...as if to summon the absent ones."

15 comments:

  1. It's really too bad that they don't see a way to make things happen for themselves in their own town instead of feeling the only way is to leave. I saw the documentary. It was very good. At least, thanks to Santiago's dream, 35 people found work and developed some skills. Thanks. This was a good synopsis.Joan

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  2. Very descriptive and informational... Dee

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  3. I like the new look... and your interesting bios. DJ

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  4. I agree with you Joan - at least he was able to create work/skills. It's a classic situation: a run down town/area brings in artists and the area begins to improve and develop desirable aspects again. RA

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  5. 2500 figures! Goosebumps. It's like 2500 ghosts. I like your new look. SZ

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  6. I like the new Blog!Some of the links are not working, but I am sure you are working them out.
    Its not as simple and less white space, but its more functional and easier to read. MJ

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  7. Wow! these comments are GREAT and so helpful! RA

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  8. Very well done! You always do good work. FB

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  9. New Blog looks good! Karen

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  10. Interesting article, and the new look is nice!
    Britt

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  11. Love the new look of the blog and as always the subject matter. Good luck with it,love Jackie x

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  12. Loved the story about Alejandro...very nice work. Dianne

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  13. New blog looks fine to me.. Fran

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  14. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment.

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  15. love the Documentary. love his paintings, reminds me of basquiat

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