Art

58 of 71

 

Luis Tapia
Death Cart
1986
aspen with mica and human hair and teeth
51 1/4 x 32 1/4 x 54 in.
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by Mrs. Albert Bracket, John W. de Peyster, and Mrs. Herbert Campbell



In New Mexico death carts were once dragged through the hillsides during Holy Week by members of the Penitente sect to remind the faithful of their mortality. Tapia, who in the 1960s determined to learn more about his Mexican American culture, taught himself to make religious sculpture by studying paintings and carvings in New Mexico churches. His death figure, however, strays from traditional images that carry a hatchet, club, or bow and arrow.



En México, las carretas de la muerte solían recorrer los montes en Semana Santa, arrastradas por miembros de la secta de los penitentes, para recordar a los fieles su condición de mortales. Tapia, que en los años sesenta decidió profundizar sus conocimientos de su cultura mexicano-americana, aprendió por sí mismo el arte de la imaginería religiosa estudiando las pinturas y tallas de las iglesias de Nuevo México. Sin embargo, su figura de la muerte se aparta de las imágenes tradicionales, a las que se representa con un hacha, una clava o con arco y flechas.

 

Copyright © 2001- , Terry Muse 
Revised: January 17, 2002
URL: http://black_and_hispanic.tripod.com/hispanichistory/
Contact: Terry Muse