Alan Serna contra: Jose Chavez Morado

Jose Chavez Morado was a mexican muralist from the second generation of revolutionary paintings. While Mexican culture is rife with myths customs and practices, I find Morado's approach in their depiction to be unique.Rather than trying to explain these cultural aspects, Morado captures Mexico's nationals taking part in them, fully dressed in ornate costumes people are seen dancing,parading and even relaxing afterward. These paintings are snapshots of a culture, that capture moments of celebration and preservation of tradition.
The playfulness of these works evoke a cheerful atmosphere despite the morbid imagery of death imbued within the character's respective costumes.

As a muralist, Morado's work serves more as preservation and retelling of Mexico's turbulent past. As is seen with many muralist of this period and the generation prior, there is a constant resurgence of cultural historical awareness. But there is very little variability in these historical narratives, the creative spark is almost lost in these pieces as the further we drift from the past the more we want to hang onto it and romanticise the elements we like best. The historical myth is hardly questioned.

From Morado I learned that a work does not have to be solely about the myth or story itself, but the act of passing it along, in a sense providing the viewer a story within a story.