Museum Exhibit Analysis
Proposal
The influence of Mexican artists is evident in many cities in America. Mexico underwent a radical cultural transformation by the end of the great revolution in 1920. A new relationship between art and the public was established, giving rise to mural art as a way of expressing the social injustices in Mexico. Despite the historical significance of mural art, the impact of muralists in contemporary is often overlooked. However, the artist presents a creative exchange between Mexican and U.S. artists, which is important in the reorientation of the understanding of art history.
Research Questions
This analysis aims at providing a better understanding of indigenous culture by answering these questions
- What role did mural art play in creating awareness of the social injustices in America
- Why the migration of Mexican Muralist influence the contemporary American Art
- How did mural art that spoke to people about substantial social justice.
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Objectives
The purpose of this proposal was to undertake a museum tour to have a better understanding of how muralists influenced the history of American art. After visiting the museum, I expect to gain a better understanding of the profound influences of Mexican artists on America activists after two decades after the end of the Mexican revolution of 1920. The historical event revealed in museum exhibition is important in reviewing how art work during this period established a unique Mexican identity different from the European modernism.
This review explore the impact of art exchange between the U.S. and Mexican artists during the early century. The exhibition reveals how radical ideas of Mexican artists who migrated to the U.S. presented a unique way of tackling different subject matters such as social justice. The artistic expressions depicts the Mexican revolution as a heroic fight for social justice different from the modernism ideologies popularized in America, which is more fragmented way of view of life.
Outline
Introduction: how culture forms an import part of indigenous identities and the role played by museums in providing access to the public for a better understanding of the indigenous world and their unique cultures
Background of the study: Analyzing the history of the Mexican revolution and how artists were inspired by the revolution. The study examines how mural art shaped the Mexico identity and changed the perception of other American artists.
The significance of the study: to present how the exchange between Mexican and U.S. artists in that era reoriented art history in Mexico and America.
Overview of the muralist movement: The view the impact of José Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera, and David Alfaro Siqueiros art in terms of freedom and promotion of social justice.
Discussion of the exhibit: The exhibition outlines some of the important art work as a means of advocacy. The exhibition aims at revealing how art plays a social role which includes being accessible to able to engage with everyday events.
The significance of the exhibition: Explanation of the influence of the exhibition in portraying the much overlooked creative exchange between Mexican and U.S. artists in that era, which is important as it informs us of the other side of the Mexican history from a different perspective.
Introduction
Cultures and ethnology museums are important historical places where indigenous identities are preserved. Museum acts as an educational resource that presents an objective presentation of culture. It provides the audiences a good opportunity to learn through objects, exhibition notes, and curatorial experts regarding indigenous groups. The materiality and the physical display of objects in the museum provide access to the public of a better understanding of the indigenous world and their unique cultures (Golding 32). Through exhibitions people are encouraged to not only preserve but also appreciate these cultures. By analyzing the museum exhibition is a good opportunity for students and the general audience to understand this great transformation that changed the history of America. The research will focus on Vida Americana: Mexican Muralists Remake American Art 1925-45 exhibition at Whitney Museum of American Art.
Background of the Study
The reason for selecting Vida Americana exhibition is to present the how museums acts as a platform to redefine culture. The exhibition is important because it reveals the cultural resurgence that emerged in Mexico in 1920 after the famous Mexican revolution that changes both the U.S. and the history of Mexico. The exhibition reveals important events using a wide range in leading muralists including José Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera, and David Alfaro Siqueiros. The artistic styles describe different subject matter and ideologies expressed in art relevant in the U.S. between 1925 and 1945(Haskell). The panoramic presentation of the Mexican murals during the post revolution period reveals radical subject matter by muralist who lived in the U.S. Even though muralist movement influenced American art narrative, their exclusion from the description of the modern art is often overlooked. The muralists expression is an expansive vision of modernism, which is an explorative ways of understanding the transformation that defined the U.S. history. Through Vida Americana exhibition, people can understand the rich cultural exchange that occurred between these two countries.
The significance of the study
This study presents a visual understanding of culture through exhibitions. The artistic expressions are important for students to develop a better and compassionate view of culture. even though European culture has long existed in Mexico ,it it the revolution that presented an opportunity to portray the indigenous population as a national pride (Trofanenko 311). The murals are representation of hope and freedom which is different from the urban ways of isolation of the industrial lie in America
Mexican Muralists
Mexican artists whom migrated to America such as Orozco, Rivera, and Siqueiros, influenced American view of the world. Rivera art work supported the Mexican revolution and condemned social injustices. His encounter with other artists is America exposed him to ordinary life of Americans that inspired his artwork. Diego Rivera work was recognized, and his seven panel mural cycle fills the wall of the court yard on the art museum in Detroit (Haskell). His artwork revealed the modern industrial culture of the United States. The mural by Rivera explored the complex relationship between man and machine during the era of mechanical production. He presented some of the concerned raised including the ethical rights of the working class; his artwork evoked mixed reactions from different groups.
Similarly, David Alfaro Siqueiros artistic expression is more radical, his murals in Los Angeles in 1932 including the Tropical America inspired many American artists (Haskell). . The mural presented a powerful political statement on U.S. The sculpture of a Mexican Indian crucified on a cross and on top of the cross and American eagle reveals the oppression faced by Mexican living in America (Haskell). José Clemente Orozco one of the leading Mexican muralists who lived in America and how his work inspired change in America. One of the most influential cultural contributions by Orzco was the fresco tradition. He explored social conditions using art as a weapon .Orzco Prometheus mural is viewed as the greatest painting that inspired many Americans. Reuben Kadish and Charles White were among the American who travelled to Mexico to admire his artistic expression (Haskell). All these artistic expressions resonated with American people.
Following the economic and social challenges in America, artist used their art to effect changes. American looked for inspiration from Mexican muralists. for example, Thomas Hart Benton inspired by muralists art work gain confidence in fighting against police brutality towards labor organization and injustices against people of color(Haskell).American artists engaged directly in campaigning against oppression of minority more so African American . The exhibition reveals how the legacy of Mexican mural not only inspired contemporary artists, but also inspired people to promote social justice.
Analysis of the Exhibit
The exhibition named Vida Americana: Mexican Muralists Remake American Art 1925-45, Present art by famous Mexican Muralist and American contempary artist the exhibition reveals the influence of Mexican art , more so during a period when America were facing several challenges during the great depression . To understand how the Mexican artists influenced America following the end of the major revolution in Mexico in1920, the exhibition explores the works three mural artists to reveal the direction American art took after their interaction with such creative artists. This exhibition reveals how Mexican artists offered a convincing model to portray social and political subject matter relevant to America situation. The exhibition not only represents the culmination of artistic expressions, but also presents a more inclusive view of contemporary art in the United States.
The significance of the exhibition:
Anyone who views these pieces or art is amazed by the amount of the rich Mexican art. The social and political tones are evident in most of the murals seen in public places. The mural reveals pictures of ordinary people struggling to leave in an oppressed society. This artistic expression explores the art by three famous muralists known for their activism role that majorly influenced the American art. The exhibition presents some of these hidden roles of mural artists often overlooked by several historical literatures. The exhibition displays work that were often ignored and almost forgotten. This is important to students and general audience because it reveals a new relationship between arts which is accessible to the public. The exhibition enable students examine both the political and social contexts in which particular identities are defined and how it is presented to the public.
Conclusion
Through exhibition ,the audience can see the power of museum exhibitionary practices and how it affect people perception as it construct different environment of objects in their collections . By viewing these exhibitions, students develop a better and compassionate view of culture . It is important to give students and the general public opportunities to recognize the systematic ways in which museums reorient the history through art. This allows students to understand the history of specific indigenous identity and culture, which makes it an important institution with an expansive view of history that is always partially presented.
Works Cited
Haskell, Barbara. Vida Americana-Mexican Muralists Remake American Art, 1925-1945. Yale University Press, 2020.
Trofanenko, B.(Dec, 2006). Displayed Objects, Indigenous Identities, and Public Pedagogy. Anthropology & Education Quarterly. Vol. 37, No. 4 pp. 309-327
Golding ,Viv Learning at the Museum Frontiers Identity, Race and Power