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Oaxaca en la historia y en el mito
Mural by Arturo García Bustos / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oaxaca en la historia y en el mito (English: Oaxaca in history and myth) is a huge mural created by Arturo García Bustos (1926-2017). García Bustos was "an artist dedicated to the humanistic struggles and liberal ideals that he expressed profoundly in his art."[1] He painted the mural in a stairwell in the Palacio de Gobierno in Oaxaca. When this was written the location was officially known as the Museo del Palacio Universum, but it was commonly referred to as the Palacio de Gobierno. It is located in Oaxaca de Juárez, México, known in English as Oaxaca City.
Oaxaca en la historia y en el mito | |
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English: Oaxaca in history and myth | |
![]() The mural as seen from inside the Palacio de Gobierno | |
Artist | Arturo García Bustos |
Year | May 1978 (1978-05)-November 1980 (1980-11) |
Subject | Local history |
Dimensions | 220 m2 (2,400 sq ft) |
Location | Museo del Palacio Universum Government Palace, Peru, Oaxaca de Juárez, México |
Coordinates | 12.04514°S 77.02989°W / -12.04514; -77.02989 |
A pamphlet distributed to attendees at the inauguration described the mural as a "mapamundi oaxaqueño" or a Oaxacan worldmap. [2] The mural is a visual history of Oaxaca from prehistoric times to modern times, with little past the Mexican Revolution. The images selected and not selected in a visual history are key to the final message.[3] Bustos focused on images of the liberal traditions and reform in his interpretation of the history of Oaxaca,[4] largely leaving out those who opposed liberal ideas, such as the church and monarchists and also played important roles in Oaxacan and Mexican history.[5] This article cites academic research and government publications, with the later being prone to perpetuating what has been called "mithified" history.[6]
In the artist's words: “Cuando pinté la escalera monumental del Palacio de Gobierno de Oaxaca sentí que lo que había que revelar era la historia que contenían esos corredores por los que habían transitado muchos de los creadores de nuestra historia patria.” (“When I painted the monumental staircase of the Government Palace of Oaxaca, I felt that what had to be revealed was the history that those corridors contained through which many of the creators of our national history had passed.")[7] Many of the individuals portrayed on the mural did not literally climb the steps and pass through the corridors where the mural now depicts their history, as the artist suggests, The entire prehispanic panel depicts an era before the building, and Oaxaca were ever thought of. Also, the Government Palace was often not usable due to earthquakes in 1787, 1801 1845,1854 and 1931. But the individuals in the mural did shape the history of Oaxaca and even Mexico. And if the events did not occur in the building, many occurred in the nearby Zocalo, the Cathedral and the surrounding area.
The artist also explains: “Somos un pueblo con una historia antigua que ha demostrado su genio labrando piedras para edificar ciudades que quisieron alcanzar las estrellas, espacios reales en armonía con los paisajes, el cosmos y el hombre.” (“We are a people with an ancient history that has demonstrated its genius by carving stones to build cities that wanted to reach the stars, real spaces in harmony with the landscapes, the cosmos and man”)[8]
A glossy government-sponsored book about the history of Oaxaca published in 2019, includes this summary about the mural: "Si para un visitante es interesante apreciar estos murales, para un oaxaqueño debe ser obligatorio conocer cada una de sus imágenes y sentirse orgulloso de esta tierra mexicana." ("If it is interesting for a visitor to appreciate these murals, for an Oaxacan it must be mandatory to know each of their images and feel proud of this Mexican land.").[9] Unfortunately, visitors are often forbidden from visiting the mural becase access is barred when there are protests in the nearby public square.
The distinguished historian, Francie Chassen-López[10] wrote in 1989, "la historia de Oaxaca es muy poco conocida (the history of Oaxaca is very little known).[11] Understanding what Arturo García Bustos tells us about the history of this region in Oaxaca en la historia y en el mito is a good place to start, to understand some, but not all, aspects of the history of Oaxaca. Presentations about the mural have been delivered in the cultural center called the Oaxaca Lending Library.[12] These presentations include a visit to the mural when access is permitted.[13]