Sunday, November 2, 2008

Convention of Catrinas

La Calavera de la Catrina is a famous skeletal drawing (ok, technically zinc etching) by late 19th century/early 20th century Mexican political cartoonist Jose Guadalupe Posada. You can read about la Catrina, and Posada, here. Since Posada first drew her she's become a kind of icon, instantly recognizable, the queen of the million other calaveras (skeletons) dancing around Mexico every Dia de los Muertos. Posada's etchings were highly political (and hugely influential): In the years just before, during, and after Mexico's revolution, Posada drew politicians of the day as skeletons, as if to say, underneath all the trappings of power, they face the same fate you and I do. Fitting for these last few days before a presidential election...

Anyway, last weekend the Jardin Borda (literally "Borda Garden" - it's kind of a botanical park) in Cuernavaca held a contest to see who could make the best life-size Catrina. You can see pictures of the Catrinas below.



Cuernavaca Catrina Contest

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