Assignment 5C

Assignment 5c

MolAA stands for Museum of Latin American Art. Many Latin American artists have their work displayed there. The work that we worked on this semester has opened my eyes about the art. The art to me represents the oppression that the natives felt when they were taken over and had their land and people ravaged by the conquistadores. Many of the pieces show pain and hanging on. Some are somber and make me feel peaceful. It shows the strength that the people have and how they have learned to overcome many of the obstacles that they have faced. It also shows how proud they are of their people and their heritage.
Laura Hernandez’ Man Element Water 1997.
This piece is a modern artist depiction of a man that covers the earth that is shaped like a fish. It looks like the man is the water and is holding on to dear life to the fish. It could represent the way Latin Americans felt about the conquistadores. The natives are the man clinging on to the fish who has come into their lives. The fish needs the man as does the man needs the fish to survive. They are now intertwined and there is no going back. Many of the natives’ children are of both European and native decent and they must learn to live together as one. Their history and culture has changed and this is how they must survive together. I think this connects to my study of humanities because it shows how even though the people were oppressed they have come to depend on each other and now cannot live without each other. They are now seen as one and have overcome their differences from the past.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUaZHgJElTQ&feature=related
I came across this piece when we were looking at Molaa on you tube. It is a great piece made of paper mache with oil paints. It is a large piece that can be found in the first 60 seconds of the link above. It is a very bright and colorful piece. I think you can see texture. It is shaped like a large fish. It is mostly blue and green. The man is green and represents the water element. The mouth of the fish is tan or brown represents the land of the earth. I believe that I see the moon on the back end of the fish as well. It is an excellent piece. The lines are flowing like water and it seems to be fluid. It also has a smaller fish that portrays the head of the sea man.
As I stated earlier this work of art represents both cultures interwined with one another despite the history and how it happened. Many of the natives and Europeans have come together to both accept and depend on each other. Their new world children share the same history and culture and despite their oppression have learned to love each other.
I chose this piece because it was one of the first pieces that caught my eye in the video. I think it is a great piece with many different elements to it. I have never seen anything like it before. This piece makes me feel relaxed the colors are calm and peaceful. The blue and green make it serene and the fish is a kind looking fish that holds onto the water man with a fish head.
My question to the artist would be; what made you want to create this piece? What is the significance in the man and the fish head? I wonder if I am close in my observation of this piece as far as its meaning. I know that this piece was made in 1997 and is a modern piece but does this relate to the history of Latin Americans or is it more of a personal piece?