Diego Rivera: The Mexican Muralist

The challenges Diego Rivera faced as a Latin American artist are not unlike the challenges that artists have faced throughout history around the world.  It is important to note that Rivera was adamant about being truthful in imagery and stated that he had "been in conflict with those who wanted me to paint not what I saw, but what they wished me to see".

Every artist whether a painter, sculpture, or writer has a message to deliver or a story to tell.  The context may be political, social, moral, etc.  How individuals view the world is subjective and the interpretation of art is equally subjective.  Due to the nature of man and art, there is no way that we can all agree on various subject matters; nor can we all enjoy or appreciate the subject to which the artist has chosen to express.

C.S. Lewis once shared with his students that writers write what they know and good writers are able to lead the reader as if they were there observing the actions and details of the players and the scene.  It is true of all the arts and like C.S. Lewis, Diego Rivera shared what he observed; thus drawing and painting what he observed and stating specifically: "I paint what I see".

Rivera had a love and a passion for creating imagery and was taught classically at the Academy of San Carlos in Mexico City.  The skills he gained and developed there gave him the tools to become great and he was encouraged to further develop his abilities and was sent abroad to study in Paris. 

My first exposure to Diego Rivera's work was The Flower Seller exhibited at the Norton Simon Museum when I was an art student in high school.  At that time I was unaware of his murals and the prominent figure he played in the history of Latin America and his notoriety throughout the world.  Rivera's calla lily series is my favorite of his works and has influenced some of my own work in the areas of gardening, quilting, and papercrafts.



The first image is a card face using a technique called "iris folding".  The second image is a quilt square using the same template as the one used for the card.

 

One of the challenges that I share with Diego Rivera is finding the artistic expression that conveys the deep emotions and desires that reside within.  I think that is why he tried some of the different art forms that emerged in the 19th century.  When he was engaged in the muralist work commissioned by Mexico, he found his passion.  The mission of the initiative was to have murals painted on the walls of public buildings depicting the history of the country, land, and people; in addition to providing inspiration and hope to a nation that had experienced terrible bloodshed and conflict as a consequence of the Mexican Revolution.

As the leading Mexican Muralist, Diego Rivera emphasized what was important to him; focusing on social issues; the condition of the working poor, as expressed in his piece Sugar Cane; as well as the history of the indigenous peoples.

Rivera was often criticized for the images used in many of his murals, yet he stood by his work.  It wasn't until later in his career that he acquiesced and made changes to murals to satisfy the consumer.  This made me sad that he had to compromise his moral compass and his passion to save his work.  We live in a country that prides itself on the freedom of expression, yet there are many who wish to censor the work of others just because they don't agree or they are offended by what they see.

Victor Hugo's historical novel, Les Miserables, is a testament to the atrocities and depravity found in France around the time of the French Revolution.  This classical work causes the reader to reflect upon themselves and the lives they lead.  Diego Rivera's murals are an expression of what "is" and the impact of choices made on the lives of individuals.  I can not help but assume that the "offended" observer is ashamed of the past and present offenses made and wishes to subdue the imagery by destroying it.  And if destroyed, we have learned nothing.